Cebu Pacific ordered to pay PHP2 million to passenger

It’s worth noting that so many people say there’s a lack of kindness among some of the employees of this airline.

“The Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) ordered Cebu Pacific (CebuPac) to pay PHP2 million in moral and exemplary damages to Rev. Magnolia Nova Mendoza, an ordained minister and professor at the Silliman University Divinity School, whom the airline had barred from taking her flight due to her psoriasis,” reports ABS-CBNnews.com.

The report said that, Pasay court Branch 114 Judge Edwin Ramizo, in a 39-page decision, said Mendoza was “put in a situation wherein she was being subjected to a rigid inspection through no fault of her, thus bringing so much embarrassment, humiliation and anxiety on her part.”

The incident had happened back in March 11, 2010. As Mendoza was about to check in, Cebu Pacific personnel gave her back her ticket and asked about the rashes on her face.

The report noted: “Mendoza was suffering from psoriasis, which is not a communicable disease. To her embarrassment, however, she was asked to produce a medical certificate before she could be allowed to board the flight.”

The report went on to reveal that “the Cebu Pacific officials booked her for the afternoon flight without additional expenses as long as she can produce a medical certificate that she is safe for travel.” Mendoza was allowed to fly that afternoon, but was urged to sign still a Special Handling Form.

In the decision, Ramizo explained: “When an airline issues a ticket to a passenger confirmed on a particular flight on a certain date, a contract of carriage arises, and the passenger has every right to expect that he would fly on that flight and on that date. If he does not, then the carrier opens itself to a suit for breach of contract of carriage.”

For their part, Cebu Pacific claimed that it was “only exercising diligence to ensure the safety of other passengers.” Cebu Pacific corporate communications manager Michelle Pestano-Fojas said she has yet to read the decision.

Photo by Mike Gonzalez (WikiCommons)




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