Filing of complaint against Abaya, others, long overdue, Palace says

October 24, 2017

Malacanang expressed support on Tuesday to the filing of graft complaints against former officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications over the alleged anomalous contract with a Filipino-Korean firm regarding the maintenance of the problematic Metro Railway Transit 3.

"The filing of graft charges against former Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and other officials from the then Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) over an allegedly anomalous deal with Metro Railway Transit 3 (MRT-3) maintenance provider Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI) is long overdue," said Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella in a press briefing.

He expressed belief the "long suffering commuters of MRT" who experience daily train breakdowns during their travel "surely welcome this development."

"Public office, as we often hear, is public trust.  Let this be a good reminder to all public officials to perform their official functions with competence, integrity and compassion for they are accountable in all their action.  Similarly, let this be an opportunity for the Office of the Ombudsman to show its true independence in fighting corruption in the corridors of the power," Abella stressed.

The Department of Transportation filed on Monday graft complaints at the Office of the Ombudsman against Abaya and other former officials of the then DOTC for the alleged anomalous maintenance contract with Busan Universal Rails, Inc. Celerina Monte/DMS