The Samahang Manggagawa sa Paliparan ng Pilipinas (SMPP) has denied having any involvement or giving authorization to the petition filed by the group “PUSO ng NAIA” questioning the legality of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Project.
In an official statement, the SMPP—the legitimate and largest union of rank-and-file employees of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA)—clarified that while there had been previous consultations and disagreements with MIAA management during the development and implementation of the PPP project, all issues were peacefully settled through a series of dialogues prior to the formal turnover to the private concessionaire.
“Ang SMPP ay walang anumang opisyal o di-opisyal na koneksyon o pakikilahok sa grupong nabanggit. Ang mga isyung inihain sa Korte Suprema ay hindi usaping pang-unyon,” the organization stated.
The SMPP emphasized that it did not participate in or give consent to the petition lodged before the Supreme Court by individuals and groups—including PUSO ng NAIA—seeking to declare the NAIA PPP agreement unconstitutional.
“Mariin naming itinatanggi ang anumang kaugnayan sa nasabing petisyon. Ang SMPP ay hindi partido sa kasong ito at hindi kami nagbigay ng pahintulot sa sinuman na gamitin ang pangalan ng aming samahan,” the SMPP further asserted.
The union also clarified that no one was authorized to use the SMPP’s name in connection with the case. It reiterated its commitment to continue protecting the welfare and rights of MIAA employees through legitimate and peaceful dialogue with management, while upholding transparency and due process in all matters affecting airport workers.
The statement was signed by SMPP officials led by Vice President Leoncio A. Landong, Jr., Secretary Rosalinda B. Zapues, and Treasurer Ghurdiv B. Chand, and was officially received by the Office of the MIAA General Manager on October 23.