A total of 54 local and international flights of Philippine Airlines (PAL) were canceled Monday because of operational problems of the national flag carrier, according to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

Also on Monday, the PAL management said it requested heavier police being there in and around Terminal 2 of Ninoy Aquino Internal Airport (Naia) because of numerous complaints of nuisance and acts of violence against PAL volunteers and service providers.

Last Sunday, 65 foreign and domestic flights of PAL were also canceled because of the same trouble.

The subsequent Philippine Airlines international flights were canceled: PR 318 and PR 312 Manila-Hong Kong and PR 319 and PR 313, Hong Kong-Manila; PR 501 Manila-Singapore and PR 512 Singapore-Manila; PR 732 Manila-Bangkok and PR 733 Bangkok-Manila; PR 352 Manila-Macau and PR 353 Macau-Manila; PR 416 Manila-Busan and PR 417 Busan-Manila; and PR 758 Manila-New Delhi.

40 domestic flights to and from the subsequent PAL destinations were also canceled: Cebu City, Davao City, Bacolod City, Laoag City, Roxas City, Cagayan de Oro City, Legazpi City, Butuan City and Dumaguete City.

In the meantime, 24 local PAL flights to Roxas City, Puerto Princesa City, Iloilo City, Cagayan del Oro, Dipolog City, Tagbilaran City, and Kalibo, Aklan, among others, were serviced at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 3 as an alternative of Terminal 2 because of what the airline company called “operational necessity.”

On Sunday, PAL vice president for corporate communications, Joey de Guzman, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that at least “95 percent of our international flights and 60 percent of our domestic flights are back to normal operations.”

Harassment hit

PAL on Monday said it inquire the Aviation Security Group and Southern Police District to position more policemen particularly in areas where PAL workers pass on their way to and from work.

“We deplore, in the strongest possible terms, the nuisance perpetrated by former PAL employees against our volunteers and service providers. These workers altruistically share their time and skills to keep PAL flying. They deserve protection from authorities,” the airline said in a declaration.

PAL management said it had received many complaints of verbal cruelty and damage done to vehicles of PAL volunteers and former union members who decided to join PAL’s new service providers.

“This morning, ex-PAL employees led by former Palea (employees’ union) leaders stormed the Charter House Hotel in Makati with a very open and clear purpose of harassing PAL volunteers from various outstations. This and many other forms of mistreatment are the kind of nuisance we’re talking about,” PAL said.

The company stressed that PAL volunteers from its regional stations composed of licensed ground equipment operators were not scabs but legitimate workers performing official functions.

PAL said it also asked the police to look out for former PAL employees who take buses and jeepneys en route to Naia Terminal 2 with the plan of verbally mistreat PAL workers and volunteers on their way to work.