De Lima’s cousin one of resigned PAL pilots

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said she is willing to recuse herself from government talks with Philippine Airlines (PAL) and pilots after she discovered that her cousin is one of the 25 pilots who resigned.

“I learned yesterday that one of the pilots who resigned is a first cousin of mine. I immediately disclosed it to (Executive) Secretary (Pacquito) Ochoa, who informed PAL about it. If the PAL management is not comfortable, I will have to recuse myself,” she said.

First Captain Emmanuel De Lima was one of the 25 pilots who resigned from PAL.

De Lima said government is currently evaluating the information it received from the separate dialogues it had with the management and pilots. She said the information will be used as basis of the government’s possible actions to help settle the dispute.

However she refused to give details on the results of the dialogue because of the possibility of recusing herself.

Source: Inquirer