Aquino deaf to calls to fire Abaya amid MRT mishap
DOTC Sec. Joseph Emilio Abaya. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Amid the problems faced by the riding public, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya is still in the good graces of President Benigno Aquino III, Malacañang said Sunday.
“Patuloy ang kumpyansa at pagtitiwala ni Pangulong Aquino sa kakayahan ni Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya ng DOTC,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said over state-run dzRB when asked about calls to sack Abaya.
(President Aquino’s confidence and trust in the ability of Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya of the Department of Transportation and Communications remain.)
The statement came after the technical problems faced by the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) reached its peak on Thursday, resulting in a coach overshooting a barrier and injuring more than 30 people.
Coloma insisted that the priority of the government was to ensure the safety of thousands of MRT passengers.
“Nagsisikap po ang pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng DOTC na gawin ang lahat para maghatid ng mainam at kapaki-pakinabang na serbisyo,” he said.
(The government, through the DOCT, strives to do everything to deliver proper service.)
He said that while there were times when the MRT had suffered technical problems, it was still able to continue its operations.
He assured the public that the incident last Thursday was being investigated and the results will come out on Tuesday (August 19).
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