Morales vows speedy probe on MRT-3 mess

MANILA, Philippines — Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on Wednesday assured that her office will prioritize the investigation on various complaints in connection with the alleged anomalous deals entered by the previous administration for maintenance of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3.

In a chance interview with reporters after delivering a speech in a university in Manila, Morales said she wants the complaints resolved before she retires in July 2018.

“Yes of course, we will immediately act on them. We cannot wait until July to act on the complaints. I'm supposed to retire next year, unless I get impeached and convicted,” Morales said.

The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption had earlier repeatedly said it will file an impeachment case against Morales over her office's alleged partiality in its investigation on the 2015 Mamasapano incident in order to shield former President Benigno Aquino III from grave cases.

Morales said she had yet to see the latest complaint filed against several former officials in connection with the MRT-3 maintenance deals but said she will heed the calls of the Malacañang as well as Sen. Grace Poe who chairs the Senate committee on public services, prioritize its investigation.

On Tuesday, a fourth complaint was filed before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the alleged anomalous MRT-3 maintenance contracts entered during the Aquino administration.

The complaint was filed by the Department of Transportation represented by its undersecretary for legal affairs and procurement Reinir Paul Yebra, legal services director Giovanni Lopez and lawyer Mark Steven Pastor.

The DoTr said past officials of the Department of Transportation and Communication, including its former secretaries Mar Roxas and Joseph Emilio Abaya must be held accountable for plunder, graft and violation of the government procurement law for MRT maintenance service contracts entered from 2012 to 2017.

Aside from Roxas and Abaya, also named as respondents in the complaint were seven other former Cabinent officials of Aquino namely; Florencio Abad (budget), Cesar Purisima (finance), Jericho Petilla (energy), Mario Montejo (science), Voltaire Gazmin (defense), Rogelio Singson (public works) and Arsenio Balisacan (economic development). All the cabinet secretaries were named in the complaint for being members of the Government Procurement Policy Board.

The DoTr also implicated 10 former officials of DOTC and MRT and 11 private individuals including officials of maintenance providers Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI) and PH Trams-CB&T.

It said the DOTC, during Roxas' term as its secretary, replaced the Japanese firm Sumitomo Corp. as the MRT-3's maintenance provider despite its efficient performance in order to favor PH-Trams whose incorporators are supposedly “well-known Liberal Party (LP) stalwarts”.

The DoTr said a P1.2-billion contract was awarded to PH Trams for the maintenance of MRT-3 from October 2012 until August 2013 even when the firm is not even registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The DoTr said that after the deal with PH Trams ended, the DOTC then entered into a P685-million contract with Global-Autre Porte Technique Global Inc. (Global-APT) from September 2013 to September 2014, through “closed-door negotiations” instead of holding a public bidding.

It said Global-APT did not buy spare parts for the MRT-3 but, instead, used railway tracks from LRT-2 – a violation that allegedly led to the derailing of an MRT-3 train at the Taft Avenue station on Aug. 13, 2014.

The DoTr said the respondents must also be held accountable for the purchase of 48 train cars amounting P3.769 billion from Chinese firm Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock. The DoTr said the train cars remain unusable due to compatibility and weight issues.

Lastly, the DoTr said the respondents also conspired in “manufacturing circumstances” that let to the awarding of P3.8-billion maintenance contract with BURI in December 2015.

Abaya and several former officials of the DOTC and MRT were earlier charged before by the DoTr and progressive groups Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and Bayan Muna in connection with the contract with BURI, which they described as a “totally incompetence” maintenance service provider.

In May of this year, anti-corruption group Anti-Trapo Movement of the Philippines also filed a graft complaint against Abaya and other DOTC officials in connection with the 48 unused train cars purchased from Dalian.

Abaya, Roxas unfazed amid charges

Meanwhile, in a press statement, Abaya said he is confident that and the other implicated officials will be vindicated of the “unfounded allegations”.

“I am confident that any inquiry will show that any and all projects and agreements entered into during not only my stint but during the Aquino administration were done with full, rigorous compliance with the law, with honesty, and in the public interest,” Abaya said.

Abaya assured that he will “not shirk” from his duty of facing official proceedings in connection with the charges.

“Both for myself and my subordinates, I am sure we will be vindicated by the record. My only regret is that much-needed improvements will once again be delayed or even reversed because of the current unfounded allegations,” he said.

Roxas, who is currently out of the country, meanwhile described the DoTr's complaint as “pathetic” and was supposedly aimed to cover up the agency's lack of accomplishment.

“In a word? Pathetic. Dahil walang mapakitang accomplishment sa mga ipinangako, nagimbento ng kasong walang laman, walang basehan sa katotohanan o sa batas para ipakitang may ginagawa sila. (Because it has no accomplishment to brag about, it now came up with a baseless and empty complaint to show that it is doing something),” Roxas said referring to the DoTr.

“This is laughable on its face. I haven’t received a copy of the complaint and will withhold further comment until I do,” he added.