Ex-DOTC chief Abaya may face raps over unusable trains

MANILA, Philippines - If there is sufficient evidence, charges will be filed against former transportation secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and other officials in connection with the 48 unusable commuter train coaches of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3), Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said yesterday.

Tugade also tasked Cesar Chavez, assistant secretary for rails of the Department of Transportation, to get a certification from a third party international firm to determine the safety of the 48 new trains that remain unusable.

“As I said investigations are ongoing. I assure you once there are substantive proofs that can justify a case then we will do it but all these hanky panky and foolishness will not go unpunished,” Tugade told a news conference at the ASEAN International Media Center at the Conrad Hotel.

At the same time, Sen. Grace Poe said the past officials of the former Department of Transportation and Communications led by Abaya should be held liable for plunder.

Poe pointed out the purchase of P3.8 billion worth of MRT-3 trains that are still unusable.

Poe said the past officials must account for the current situation where 48 trains they have purchased are unserviceable.

Poe said she would initiate a congressional inquiry as chairperson of the committee on public services when Congress resumes session next week.

She said Abaya would be among the officials she would invite to the inquiry.

“There are many names here but of course the (former) secretary cannot be excused… because you need to explain what happened here,” she added.

Chavez has said the 48 new light rail vehicles (LRVs) purchased under the former administration would remain unusable for the next three years because it has no signaling system device.

The 48 LRVs were procured by the former administration for P3.8 billion from Dalian Locomotive Corp. of China as part of the MRT-3 capacity expansion project of Abaya.

Chavez also accused the service provider Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI) of failing in its obligation to properly maintain the commuter train system.

Chavez also alleged the DOTr has slashed their payment to BURI in the past months over allegations that it failed to purchase the necessary spare parts suitable for the MRT-3. 

Glitches from the very start

BURI however insists the train operation has improved under its watch. 

BURI spokesman Charles Perfecto Mercado said the company has reduced the number of door issues and increased the number of operational trains since January 2016. 

“We have never been remiss about the satisfaction of our maintenance obligations,” Mercado told a press conference on Wednesday. 

He pointed out BURI would not get certification from the MRT if they were not able to comply with the requirements. 

Mercado said BURI regularly does the preparations and check up of the trains, which are being monitored along with the MRT management before they will be allowed to operate.

Mercado also emphasized BURI should not be singled out for the glitches in the MRT-3 system.

He said a lot of factors contributed to the technical problems of the MRT-3 and maintenance work is only one of them.