AirAsia MOVE faces economic sabotage case for alleged overcharging in the Philippines
In a press briefing on Monday (June 2), Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon (pic) said they were finalising the complaints against AirAsia MOVE with the target of filing the case this week.
Prior to this, the government agency issued a cease and desist order against the company headquartered in Malaysia on May 26.
Dizon said the case stemmed from the complaint by Leyte 4th District Rep. Richard Gomez and Ormoc Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, who booked Philippine Airlines (PAL) flights from Tacloban to Manila via AirAsia MOVE that cost them about P77,704 (US$1392) – or almost P40,000 each.
Had they booked through the PAL website, the plane tickets would have only cost them P49,507, Dizon noted.
'I have asked them (Philippine National Police – Anti-Cybercrime Group) to take this website down today, so this AirAsia MOVE can no longer scam others. I'm sure Congressman Richard Gomez is not the only victim here,' Dizon announced in a press conference on Monday.
'I also asked the CAB (Civil Aeronautics Board) and DOTr aviation group to immediately file a criminal economic sabotage case against AirAsia MOVE because this is really economic sabotage,' Dizon added.
Dizon stressed that AirAsia MOVE's one-way plane tickets are three times higher compared to the tickets sold by other airlines at around P12,000.
Aside from Gomez, Dizon said he had also received a letter from the Office of the Civil Defence executive director, Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, detailing similar complaints about the selling of unreasonably high-priced plane tickets to Tacloban.
Dizon also said that the overcharging might have stemmed from the limited access to the 53-year-old San Juanico Bridge, whose load limit has been limited to three tonnes starting May 15, barring trucks and buses from crossing the 2.16-km. bridge.
'Clearly there is a crisis there because the movements of goods and people were affected by the partial closure of the San Juanico Bridge to heavy vehicles, such as buses and trucks. They are taking advantage of the situation,' he lamented.
The DOTr chief also instructed CAB to investigate other online platforms suspected of overcharging plane tickets not only in Tacloban but also in other destinations.
Asked if Dizon had already asked AirAsia about this, he said that the multinational airline 'has nothing to do with' the issue surrounding the online travel booking platform and is only 'affiliated' with it. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
9 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Kg Sungai Baru residents demand fair home repair aid
SUBANG JAYA: The residents' welfare organisation of Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru has urged the government to review and reassess the ceiling cost for home repairs following the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights last April. Its chairman, Baharudin Yusof, said they appreciated the federal and state governments' assistance in rebuilding and repairing the affected homes. However, he claimed there was a disparity in the repair cost ceilings set by the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ), which has led to feelings of neglect and frustration among the villagers. "Under MBSJ, the ceiling for home repairs in Putra Heights was set at RM60,000, while for our village, it was only RM30,000. "Many residents feel sidelined by this inequality," he said at a press conference today, where an open letter to the prime minister and the government was presented. Baharudin said many residents were unhappy because the actual cost to repair their homes exceeded the ceiling set by the authorities. "I had to spend RM39,000 to repair my house, but only received RM30,000 in aid. The remaining RM9,000 had to be paid out of pocket. "We were told the funds are strictly for repairs, but why the double standard?" he asked.
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Singapore's GIC to take 25pct stake in Spanish broadband venture, FT reports
BENGALURU: Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC is set to take a 25 per cent stake in a fibre optic broadband venture between MasOrange and Vodafone Spain, the Financial Times reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. GIC's investment in the company will be announced as soon as Monday, the report said, adding that its stake would be worth about 1.4 billion euros (US$1.6 billion). The deal comes after Zegona Communications unit Vodafone Spain agreed in January to create the new fibre network company in Spain with MasOrange, with London-listed Zegona expected to hold 10 per cent of the venture. The parties at the time of the announcement of the deal were also looking for an investor for the new venture who was expected to hold 40 per cent of the business. Reuters could not immediately verify the FT report. GIC, Vodafone Spain, Zegona and MasOrange did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Zegona acquired Vodafone Spain in a 5 billion euro deal last year, as part of Vodafone Group's exit from its Spanish operations.
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Inari Amertron's Lumileds deal unlikely to boost near-term earnings
KUALA LUMPUR: Inari Amertron Bhd's recent acquisition of Lumileds International is not expected to contribute positively to its earnings in the near term, as the newly acquired company continues to operate at a loss-making position. The company announced recently a strategic partnership with China's Sanan Optoelectronics Co Ltd to jointly acquire the entire stake in Lumileds International, including its 11 subsidiaries across Asia and Europe, for US$239 million (RM1.03 billion). The acquisition was valued at a price-to-book (P/B) multiple of 1.23 times. According to Public Investment Bank Bhd (PublicInvest), this is considered fair given the company's loss-making status and ownership of the proprietary aluminium gallium indium phosphide (AlGaInP) LED technology patents. "However, due to the intense competition in China's automotive market, we believe the turnaround for Lumileds will take time and is unlikely to materialise in the near term," it said in a note. PublicInvest noted that the proposed acquisition will be fully satisfied in cash and executed through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) incorporated in Hong Kong. It said the Shanghai-listed Sanan will own 74.5 per cent, while Inari will hold 25.5 per cent of the SPV, which will acquire 100 per cent equity interest in Lumileds International. "Inari will invest a total of US$71.4 million (RM307 million) for a 25.5 per cent stake and future working capital requirement. "Given the limited upside potential, we downgrade our call to Neutral, maintaining our target price of RM2.30," it added.
