The P52 million fine imposed on Cebu Pacific Airlines should go to the affected passengers and not the government, said Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares Tuesday.
According to news reports, Cebu Pacific had 20 canceled flights and 288 delayed flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 from Dec. 24 to Dec. 26 prompting the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) to act on the airline’s operational lapses.
The Civil Aeronautics Act of the Philippines (RA 776) states that “the fines so imposed shall be paid to the government of the Philippines through the CAB, and failure to pay fine in any case within the time specified in the order or decision of the board shall be a ground for the suspension of the permit of such air carrier until payment shall be made”.
Colmenares, however, said the government “has not acted on similar complaints for so long.” Colmenares also believes the fine is not enough compared to the P2.1 billion net profit of Cebu Pacific in 2014.
