Plunder raps filed vs Abaya, other Aquino officials over MRT contract

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) on Tuesday, Nov. 21, filed plunder charges against its former chief Joseph Emilio A. Abaya and several of his former colleagues in the Cabinet of former president Benigno S. C. Aquino III, over the allegedly “anomalous” Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) maintenance system contract with the Joint Venture of Busan.

This is on top of the graft raps filed last month also at the Office of the Ombudsman against Mr. Abaya and other former transportation officials also in connection with the MRT contract.

The eight new respondents in the plunder complaint are former Budget secretary Florencio B. Abad, former Socioeconomic Planning secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, former Defense secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin, former Science and Technology secretary Mario G. Montejo, former Energy secretary Jericho L. Petilla, former Finance secretary Cesar V. Purisima, former Public Works secretary Rogelio L. Singson, and Manuel “Mar” A. Roxas II, Mr. Abaya’s predecessor in the Transportation department.

DoTr Assistant Secretary Giovanni Lopez said of the plunder complaint: “Our concept here is that this is one big conspiracy by the old officials. For the past eight months, from the start of the contract of BURI, they are paying BURI by what — [P]54 million. There is no deduction despite the performed service and undelivered spare parts. For us, that’s enough reason to hold them accountable for the price of plunder.”

Asked who they saw as the “main plunderer” in this case, Transportation Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Procurement Reinier Paul Yerba said, “Based sa complaint po namin (Based on our complaint), si (it’s) Sec(retary) Mar Roxas, Sec(retary) Abaya.”

“Ito po ay matagal na naming pinag-aralan (We’ve studied this case well),” Mr. Lopez for his part was quick to point out.

But Akbayan Representative Tom S. Villarin when sought for comment said, “This is a blaming game.”

“The incompetence that’s happening now in the MRT breakdowns for more than a year or almost two years in office, they have to deflect [through] this filing of cases,” Mr. Villarin said.

For his part, Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said: “We must stress that the great suffering of the riding public as a result of the failure to deliver on the responsibilities of public office, such as the case of the current state of the MRT-3 system, carries consequences and that those accountable will be held liable.”

Mr. Roque said he had discussed the MRT issue with Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade. “He assured me number one, that they are going to procure a reliable maintenance contractor; number two, they’re building new rails. They’re buying new train cars and new signaling system,” the presidential spokesman said.

“I think Secretary Tugade knows that we’re looking up to him for a solution. [W]e’re crying for a quick solution and I’m sure that Secretary Tugade and Usec. [Cesar] Chavez are really taking all the necessary steps,” he added. — Minde Nyl R. dela Cruz