Teditorial: NAIA mess

Designer Kenneth Cobonpue and his team will hold a press conference on Thursday to clarify the issues concerning their design for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport-Terminal 1 (NAIA-1). In tonights Teditorial, Teddy Locsin Jr. defends DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas decision to set aside the groups plan and prioritize the facilitys safety. The World Tonight, ANC, November 29, 2011

Bloggers branding NAIA the worst airport were homeless gays.

Naturally, they complained the NAIA womens toilets are inadequate, theres nowhere to lie down, no kneepads in restrooms in any case.

But so long as an airport performs immigration and customs functions, who cares if it does not do anything else?

Well, people with no authority who told Pineda, Layug and Cobonpue they could remake the airport.

Nobody, who is anybody, notices the airports they pass through. My best friend, mining magnate Ronnie Zamora has travelled the world. After immigration, he said, the airport is just a blur when Ritz, Four Seasons, Mandarin or Shangri-la whisk him away.

What about the toilet? He has done his business in the plane.

Travelers flying economy, in tight seats, with smelly toilets, want to get as far from the plane, as fast as they can.

I killed the idea of doing anything to an airport that already works well.

But no, the finicky insist on a brand new airport we cannot afford or the old one remade according to Architectural Digest.

Mar Roxas has publicly proposed various prospects. He publicly considered a brand new, Changi-scale airport in Famfanga.

He publicly talked of selling NAIA to pay for the same.

Now, he has openly decided to spruce up NAIA without turning it into a garden paradise as some suggest. Trees and birds are bad for planes.

He has conducted his! thinkin g, and made his decision, in full public view and hearing. How much more transparent can you get? Locsin made the airport, who best can restore its original state?

Come now Cobonpue, Pineda and Layug 3 famous interior designers and furniture makers.

Layug pioneered postmodern furniture. Cobonpue designed Angelina Jolies babys bassinet. Pineda has his admirers. They have been working 8 months on a redesign and redecoration of the airport, with plenty of shrubs.

Why? No, not the shrubs, but why did they do the work?

They had no contract, or even formal contact with, former DOTC Secretary Ping de Jesus or his successor today.

Who put them up to it? The 3 designers fingered but did not name Cabinet members with no connection to DOTC or the airport.

Justice in this country being what it is today, where possibility is fact, suspicion probable cause, proposal a crime, and probability proof beyond reasonable doubt, I accuse the Cabinet members who approached Cobonpue and company of redecorating and refurnishing their homes for a deep discount or free, hinting the 3 could redo the airport.

I move for a subpoena to issue to Pineda, Layug and Cobonpue to reveal the names of the officials who put them up to undertaking unauthorized work.

I move for search warrants to look for furniture coming from Pineda, Layug and Cobonpue in the homes of these Cabinet officials.

I move for a subpoena duces tecum for documents showing deliveries of deeply discounted or donated furniture to them.

Without regard to the returns, I move for the detention of the officials who approached Pineda, Layug, and Cobonpue with a false commission to redo the airport they had no authority to undertake.

I want a watchlist hold-departure order on these furniture avid Cabinet men in case they escape with the furniture.

Keep well, thank you.