Eight local PPA officials sacked over party, drinking session inside Bohol port
It started as a birthday celebration inside the multi-purpose hall of the Port Management Office (PMO) Bohol and ended with at least eight of the local port’s officials being sacked from their posts for unethical conduct.
Based on the initial result of the investigation, the party was held in celebration of the birthday of PMO Bohol acting manager Lord Tyrone Agaton on Aug. 16.
A Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage showing some officials and employees of the PMO Bohol singing and dancing while the live band they hired was playing Bon Jovi’s hit song “It’s My Life” was among the pieces of evidence that reached the office of Philippine Port Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago.

photo: PPA
That CCTV installed at the PMO Bohol, unfortunately for those involved, is connected to the PPA Head Office in Manila.
Another video apparently taken by one of those who attended the party confirmed the incident.
And what further drew the ire of Santiago was the drinking session that practically turned the multi-purpose hall into a bar with top officials and some employees of PMO Bohol, including some port police officers, in attendance.
“Any part of our office is not a place for a drinking session, whatever the occasion. As officers, they should be the one taking the lead in ensuring peace and order in our ports and setting good examples to the employees,” said Santiago.
Among those sacked were Lord Tyrone Agaton, who had just been appointed as manager of the Port Management Office Bohol on June 1 this year; PMO Bohol Port Services Division Manager Julius Jumangit; lawyer Sherlito Columnas Jr., of the Legal Department; and, lawyer Romeo Cabading II, the safety officer.
Also relieved from their posts were five members of the PMO Bohol police officers identified as Edcel E. Epan, Victor B. Cagulada, Mary Maricka R. Aguirre, Meljann B. Oronan, and Emily Ross C. Tubio.
The investigation also disclosed that the chairs and tables being used in meetings and official transactions of the PPA were used during the party.
“There’s no justification for that, it’s wrong. We are fortunate that we installed surveillance CCTVs and are always making sure that they are all working in order to monitor all our 130 offices here at the (PPA) Head Office),” said Santiago.
Agaton, for his part, already apologized over the incident.
Agaton was replaced by Jon Gabriel Manansala as the acting manager of PMO Bohol.