Palace spurns lawmaker’s challenge for Aquino to ride MRT, maintains it is safe

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines– Malacañang on Monday rejected a lawmaker’s challenge for President Benigno Aquino III to ride the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) as it maintained that the MRT is safe for anyone who is riding it.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. maintained that the main priority of the government is to ensure the safety of anyone who will ride the MRT.

“Ang mahalaga diyan ay ‘yung patiyak sa kaligtasan ng ating mga mamamayan at sa mga libo-libong pasahero na gumagamit ng MRT. Kahit sino pa man ang sumakay diyan, dapat ay matiyak na ligtas ang pagbibiyahe at ‘yan ang tinitiyak ng ating pamahalaan sa araw-araw na operasyon ng MRT,” said Coloma.

(What is important is that the safety of the citizens and thousands of passengers is ensured. The safety of the citizens should be an imperative and it is being ensured by the government through the daily operations of the MRT.)

Isabela Rep.  Rodito Albano challenged Aquino Monday to ride the MRT in order to know firsthand the “suffering ” of his “bosses.”

Albano also said that Aquino should ride the MRT in order to repair “the messy state of affairs at the MRT” and exact accountability for the “dismal and totally unacceptable” management of the MRT.

Coloma also spurned calls exacting accountability from officials of MRT and Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) involved in the train mishap last week, which injured 38 passengers. He stated that ensuring the safety of the commuter train is the main responsibility of these officials and that they have faithfully done this duty.

“Kasama naman ‘yan sa konsiderasyon, ‘yung pagkakaroon ng accountability o pananagutan ng mga opisyal; at sinasabi nga natin, ang kanilang pangunahing pananagutan ay tiyakin ‘yung kaligtasan ng mga mamamayan at ng mga pasahero ng MRT,” said Coloma.

(Demanding accountability from the officials is being considered and we are saying that their main responsibility is to ensure the safety of the citizens and the passengers of the MRT.)

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