-
Domestic shipping groups aired support for appointees of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. even as they called out “unscrupulous individuals” aiming to discredit the new administration
-
PISA was formerly led by Christopher Pastrana, earlier sworn into office as the new general manager of the Philippine Ports Authority
-
Pastrana, a shipowner, has been hounded by allegations of conflict of interest since his appointment and has yet to physically report to PPA offices
-
A PPA OIC, Manuel Boholano, has meantime been appointed
Domestic shipping groups voiced support for appointees of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. even as they called out “unscrupulous individuals” aiming to discredit the new administration.
In a letter of support to the President dated July 26 and published in some newspapers, the Philippine Inter-island Shipping Association (PISA), Philippine Liner Shipping Association, and Philippine Petroleum Sea Transport Association said they fully support Marcos’ appointees, particularly Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez.
The groups claimed: “Amidst the fake news, intrigues and misinformation whose only purpose is to destabilize the economic plans of Pres. BBM that will redound to the benefit of the nation, particularly to the shipping and maritime industries, we are constrained to condemn this insidious machination by unscrupulous individuals whose aim is clearly to discredit the present regime before it can even start its mandate.
“The only conclusion that can be derived from this is the fact that this was hatched by a group of unqualified applicants who failed the litmus test standard for the position they aspired for.”
Beyond Rodriguez, the shipping groups did not name any other official they support.
Interestingly though, PISA, the umbrella organization of various domestic shipping groups, was formerly led by shipowner Christopher Pastrana, whose appointment as new general manager of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is in limbo.
Confronted by issues of conflict of interest since his appointment, Pastrana took his oath of office before Marcos on June 30. Since then he has not physically reported for work at the PPA office. In the meantime, Manuel A. Boholano was named PPA officer-in-charge by Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista until July 31 or until a permanent general manager has been designated.
There is no update on whether Pastrana will still take over PPA and when. Pastrana has stepped down as president of PISA and Philippine RoRo Operators Association.
Pastrana is chairman of domestic shipping operator Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corp. (APFC), which operates catarman-type roll-on/roll-off vessels.
According to reports, Pastrana’s Philharbor Ferries and Port Services (PFPSI) is part-owner of Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp., which runs a private-commercial port in Bacolod City.
There are also reports of PFPSI being the subject of an outstanding demand letter from the Department of Transportation to pay P132.1 million for two DOTr vessels from 2013 to 2022.
Pastrana’s daughters reportedly own Philippine Archipelago Ports and Terminal Services, Inc. (PAPTSI), while Pastrana’s brother-in-law, Rommel Ibuna is chairman of Prudential Customs Brokerage Services Inc., which operates several ports under PPA.
Moreover, it has been reported that Pastrana’s business partner, Dennis Trajano, is the husband of the sister of Executive Secretary Rodriguez’s wife. Trajano is reportedly chairman of APFC, PFPSI and PAPTSI.
A PortCalls source said earlier Pastrana was still working on divesting from his businesses.
