Tugade: I didn’t ask Chavez to resign

MANILA, Philippines — Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Thursday denied that he urged Cesar Chavez to step down as undersecretary for railways.

“For the record and contrary to the insinuations of others, I did not cause or ask Undersecretary Cesar Chavez to resign,” Tugade said.

The Transport chief said he was also surprised by Chavez’s move.

“He has my full trust and confidence. We have been doing plans and strategies together, up and until yesterday. Even by texts as I was on sickbay,” Tugade said.

Chavez announced Thursday morning that he has tendered his irrevocable and immdeiate resignation over the sorry condition of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3.

His resignation comes after a coach detached from a train last week and an accident that severed the arm of a passenger who fell onto the tracks. 

In a letter to President Rodrigo Duterte, Chavez said that he resigned out of his sense of delicadeza, which roughly translates to propriety.

Chavez also clarified that his move to step down was a personal decision.

But Sen. Grace Poe expressed doubts that Chavez’s sense of delicadeza was the only reason that prompted him to resign.

"He seemed to be one of the DOTr officials who was determined to fully address all the issues plaguing the MRT," she said in a statement to media. "I recall he was instrumental in unearthing the persons involved in anomalies that caused these issues." 

READ: Undersecretary for Railways resigns over MRT woes

Call to improve DOTr leadership                  

The undersecretary's resignation was met with disappointment and with surprise.

In a statement, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said the group was shocked over the sudden resignation, saying Chavez “has been consistent in exposing the anomalies in various MRT contracts.”

Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate (Bayan Muna party-list) described Chavez’s move as “unfortunate.”

“Undersecretary Chavez is one of the more open public officials under the DOTr and often invites groups and people’s organizations to check or consult on how to deal with the rail problems in the country, he said.

Zarate said the public should expect an even worse MRT service after the exit of Chavez.

Poe, chair of committee on public services, noted that his departure calls for the evaluation of the actions and leadership of DOTr.

“These issues should be properly and expeditiously resolved despite Undesecretary Chavez's resignation and especially considering the commuting horrors our people have to go through everyday,” Poe said.

Sen. Nancy Binay, on the other hand, thanked Chavez for his service and his commitment to find solutions to the issues besetting Metro Manila’s busiest train line.

“We wish him well and may he continue to be an advocate for a safe, efficient, and affordable transportation service,” Binay said.

Rep. Teddy Baguilat (Ifugao) lauded Chavez’s action, saying “it sends a message of personal accountability for one’s actions.”

“This is in stark contrast to his other colleagues’ penchant of continuing to blame the officials of the previous administration for the MRT woes. Filing inappropriate plunder cases doesn’t make the trains run better. Better management and purchase of newer ones do,” he said. 

DOTr on Tuesday filed plunder charges against Cabinet members of the previous administration including former Transportation chief Joseph Emilio Abaya over the allegedly anomalous maintenance deal for MRT 3.

READ: Abaya, Roxas, others face plunder complaint over MRT deal