Antonio Buendia Jr., however, did not state his reasons for leaving CAAP.
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines or CAAP Director General Antonio Buendia Jr. left his post barely a week after being appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Buendia is said to have his resignation tendered last August 19, four days after being sworn to office in Malacañan Palace. He replaced William Hotchkiss in the position.
The development was announced to CAAP employees by Transportation Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Roberto Lim during the flag-raising ceremony last August 22.
(Photo credits to: CAAP/facebook)
Buendia, however, did not state the reasons behind his resignation.
CAAP deputy director for operations Jim Sydiongco will assume as officer in charge until Pres. Duterte could name a replacement for a full-fledge head.
Sydiongco is a former pilot and vice president for flight operations, safety and quality of the airline company Cebu Pacific.
Deputy director for administration Manuel Antonio Tamayo will take the post vacated by Sydiongco.
Before appointed to CAAP, Buendia served as president of aviation firms Asian Spirit and Aerospace Development Corporation where he served for 43 long years.
Aside from Buendia, also named to hold posts were Sydiongco, Tamayo, Donaldo A. Mendoza as assistant director general II of the Flight Standard Inspectorate Service, Ma. Aurora Carandang-Gloria as head executive assistant, and Gil M. Macapagal as chief of staff.
Carandang-Gloria is the first feal commercial pilot of the Philippines and the first Filipina pilot to fly as a full-fledged captain of country’s flag carrier, Philippine Airlines (PAL) in 1993.
Columns and opinion have made rounds in dailies of national circulation and also in the social media that upon Buendia’s appointment to office, there has been an early ‘power play’ in the CAAP.
Though Sydiongco seems to be successful in grabbing the post, it is reported that Pres. Duterte was not willing to let go of him which prompted him to send a letter to Department of Transportation (DOTr) Sec. Arthur Tugade to inform that the president did not accept his backing out.