CLARK Freeport, Pampanga -- The alleged “tug-of-war” between two top officials of Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) geared up as the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) leaps and bounds as one of the busiest airports in the Asia Pacific Region today.

CIAC president Victor Jose Luciano has been at odds with his vice president Reynaldo Catacutan since October last year over the alleged cable theft inside Clark airport.

Catacutan accused Luciano of aiding the four suspects by helping them get access pass in highly restricted areas inside DMIA.

But in its recent findings, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines-Office of the Transportation Security (CAAP-OTS) cleared Luciano of the case.

The OTS investigating team reportedly claimed that there are no evidence to support that the two-kilometer missing cable wires were stolen by four suspects identified as Cesar Mayo, Jose Canete III, Nilo Padua and Rolly Padua. The four are all employees of ACP Manpower owned by a certain Josie Gomez.

However, Catacutan refuted the CAAP-OTS findings, saying the agency has no authority to declare the innocence of Luciano about the cable theft.

“The CAAP-OTS findings only refer to the safety and security of the airport and did not touch the administrative and criminal charges hurled against Luciano,” Catacutan told People’s Tonight in an interview.

According to Catacutan, only the investigation committee created by the CIAC board headed by Clark Development Corporation president Felipe Remollo could clear Luciano.

Likewise, Catacutan also questioned Luciano’s returning to work last Monday without confirmation from the CIAC board. Luciano filed a 90-day voluntary leave of absence following allegations of his involvement in the said cable theft case.

Catacutan said Luciano should have secured first a confirmation which is a requirement before a corporate government official can resume office because his leave of absence was confirmed by the CIAC board.

In addressing Catacutan’s statement, Luciano claimed that there is no need for him to secure a confirmation from the CIAC board because his leave is voluntary in nature.