Team Daang Matuwid attacks credibility of MRT Holdings chair

MANILA, Philippines - The Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid on Thursday attacked the credibility of Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Holdings chairman Robert John Sobrepeña, who blamed Liberal Party presidential candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas II for the issues hounding the train system’s contract.

Coalition spokesman and Akbayan Rep. Ibarra Gutierrez claimed Sobrepeña’s statements are driven by his business interests.

“Matagal nang nawawalan ng raket si Sobrepeña dahil kay Mar. Natural lang magalit siya. (Sobrepeña has lost money-making ventures because of Mar. It’s but natural for him to be angry),” Gutierrez said in an interview.

Gutierrez claimed that the businessman has been involved in “a long line of questionable transactions.”

He mentioned the College Assurance Plan, which sought court rehabilitation due to financial problems and the legal issues involving the Camp John Hay Development Corp., the developer of Camp John Hay, a former recreational facility of the US military in Baguio City.

“It will be up to you to decide if you will believe in him,” Gutierrez said.

The government and MRT Holdings have been trading barbs over the sorry state of the MRT while hundreds of thousands of passengers endure long lines and crowded coaches daily.

Earlier, Sobrepeña claimed that the events that led to the MRT contract mess happened during Roxas’ stint as transportation secretary.

He said the contract with Sumitomo Corp. the original maintenance contractor, was not renewed. Sobrepeña also alleged that the negotiations with PH Trams, a company described in previous reports as inexperienced and undercapitalized, happened under Roxas’ watch.

The businessman said the contract with PH Trams was signed under Roxas’ successor, Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya.

“It is something that the courts should look into,” Sobrepeña said in an earlier interview.

In a hearing last October, Abaya said the contract with Sumitomo was not renewed because the government has reservations in the conditions set by the Japanese company. He said Sumitomo also raised its service rates but would not provide warranties, something that PH Trams and Global-APT were willing to give.

Early this month, the Senate subcommittee on public services said it found "strong indications" of graft among Abaya and other transportation officials who oversaw the MRT operations.

In a report, the sub-committee said it has observed “badges of negligence and inactions” of transportation officials that indicate “insensitiveness, callous indifference, and acts disadvantageous to commuters, the Filipino public, and the government.”

The subcommittee blamed the MRT maintenance problems to the awarding of contracts to inefficient maintenance providers and the shift of responsibility to procure maintenance provider from MRTC to the transportation department.  

When asked if Roxas is ready to respond to Sobrepeña’s allegations, Gutierrez said: “If he needs to, yes, definitely. But why should he be required to answer a person with Sobrepeña's record of anomalies? A person with a clear axe to grind and a vested financial interest in continuing the original sin of the lopsided MRT contract?”