MANILA, Philippines — A special unit of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has taken over the investigation on the detachment of train coaches of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) last week after transport officials claimed human intervention was responsible for the incident.
Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Cesar Chavez said the NBI has formed a team that will determine the reasons behind the detachment of the train cars and the missing black box or messma card, the device that records all train interventions.
Chavez said data from the box will determine who were responsible for the detachment and that the ball is now with the NBI.
“The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the MRT will no longer make any statement regarding the investigation. Hawak na po ito ng (It’s in the hands of the) NBI ,” Chavez said, adding that the department “will fully cooperate in this investigation.”
Some coaches of a northbound train were detached from the lead coaches between the Ayala and Buendia stations in Makati City during the morning rush hour last Thursday, causing at least 140 commuters to be unloaded and forced to walk back to the Ayala station.
Chavez said they have some persons of interest in the incident.
Sabotage?
As this developed, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is poised to order the NBI to probe into the alleged sabotage that led to the detachment.
The DOJ is set to issue a department order which will contain the instruction, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said on the sidelines of the NBI’s 81st anniversary in Manila yesterday.
“The angle of sabotage must be pursued because it appears that it has basis,” he said.
It would be impossible for the MRT-3 coaches to detach easily if not caused by human intervention, according to Aguirre.
NBI director Dante Gierran said he has not received a formal request for investigation into the incident but has tapped a special unit to handle the case.
Too much to handle
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has expressed reservations on handling the traffic problem in Metro Manila should the MRT-3 temporarily stop operations for the rehabilitation of its trains.
MMDA assistant general manager for planning Jojo Garcia said an additional 10,000 buses with a capacity of 50 passengers would be needed to ferry the 500,000 daily commuters of the MRT-3 during the afternoon and morning rush hours.
“Definitely not. That is 500,000 commuters a day. How can you be prepared to accommodate 50 people in one bus, you’re talking about 500,000 (and) it is 10,000 buses. Saan tayo magnanakaw ng ganiyang kadaming (Where will we steal that many) additional buses?” Garcia said.
Although he sees terrible traffic in the metropolis in a no-MRT-3 scenario, he believes the DOTr and the MRT-3 will not resort to suspension of train operations.
Abaya, 9 others sued anew
In another development, former transportation secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and nine other former officials of the then Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) are facing another graft complaint in connection with the alleged anomalous awarding of a P3.8-billion contract for the maintenance of the MRT-3 to Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI).
In their 23-page complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday, leaders of various progressive groups said Abaya and other officials of the DOTC as well as the officials of BURI must be held liable for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act. – Ghio Ong, Elizabeth Marcelo