CLARK FREEPORT – A major overhaul looms at the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) which runs this freeport, after all its 11 vice presidents and assistant vice presidents tendered “courtesy resignations” to give newly appointed president and chief executive officer Arthur Tugade a freehand after their appointments expire at the end of this month.
Some of the executives have already opted for irrevocable resignations, while others are in wait for the outcome of the CDC board meeting in the first week of March to know their fate.
A senior CDC official, who asked not to be named for lack of authority, said that Tugade had asked the vice presidents and assistant vice presidents to tender their courtesy resignations soon after he assumed his post late last December.
Punto sought an interview with Tugade, who begged off but promised to be interviewed anytime this week.
While the renewable terms of the vice presidents and assistant vice presidents expire on Feb. 28, some of them have opted to resign irrevocably, including vice president for corporate services Pepito Galang who confirmed he resigned affective last Feb. 15.
There are reports that Bernie Angeles, assistant vice president for investment promotions has also tendered his irrevocable resignation effective Feb. 28, but he did not reply to text message requesting an interview.
Another vice president is also reportedly considering leaving CDC.
The other officials who tendered their courtesy resignations included CDC executive vice president Philip Jose Panlilio, vice president for business development Ernesto Gorospe, vice president for regulatory services Mariza Mandocdoc, vice president for finance Noel Manankil, and vice president for operations Franco Madlangbayan.
The assistant vice presidents whose fate is in the hands of the CDC board are Joanne Vitug-Evangelista for legal affairs, Evangeline Tejada for finance and, Teresito Tiotuyco for security and technical services.
The source said the reappointment of the others would depend on the CDC board members who are slated to meet in the first week of March, apparently to decide on whose courtesy resignations would be accepted.
The CDC board is led by Eliseo Santiago as chairman, Arnel Paciano Casanova as vice chairman, Tugade also as vice chairman, and Manolo Feliciano, Cresencio Aquino, Ricardo Baron, Rommel Bondoc, Jose Danila Conrado, Jose Armando Melo, Francisco Villanueva, and Francis Raphael Elum as directors.
Tugade created controversy upon assuming his post when, during his first flag ceremony in front of over 600 CDC employees, he stated a curse word in Pilipino to warn those who would not cooperate with him. He later apologized for this.
During the ceremony, he asked employees to be prompt in reporting to work, always smile, and, as CDC employees, never accept gifts.
