How did top DOTC officials beat raps? Poe wants to know

SEN. GRACE Poe on Sunday expressed surprise that top Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) officials, including Secretary Joseph Abaya, were “spared” from criminal charges over alleged irregularities in the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) maintenance contract.

The independent presidential candidate, who had led an inquiry into the sorry state of the MRT as chair of the Senate subcommittee on transport, said she believed the highest DOTC officials “should also be held liable,” aside from the MRT officials who were indicted.

“Since Secretary Abaya signed and approved the contract, I am a little bit surprised that he doesn’t have any liabilities whatsoever,” Poe said in a statement.

But Poe also praised the Ombudsman for pressing the suit against former MRT-3 general manager Al Vitangcol III and five others over the allegedly anomalous deal.

“I thank the Ombudsman for siding with the 600,000 daily commuters of the MRT who continue to suffer and endure bad service,” she said. “We will monitor the progress of the case until justice is served.”

Poe noted that the Ombudsman’s Fact Investigating Office had initially included Abaya and other top transportation officials in the graft probe, but did not find probable cause to charge them during the preliminary investigation.

“In any case, I hope this serves as a warning to all government officials that corrupt practices and illegal motives will not be condoned,” she said.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed graft charges against Vitangcol in the Sandiganbayan after finding probable cause in the charge that he conspired with Philippine Trans Rail Management and Services Corp. (PH Trams) in the awarding of an $11.5-million maintenance contract without a public bidding.

Five PH Trams executives were also charged.

According to the 39-page resolution, Vitangcol acted in “evident bad faith, manifest partiality or gross inexcusable negligence” to give unwarranted advantage to PH Trams and joint venture partner Comm Builders and Technology Philippines Corp.

Poe said Vitangcol’s uncle-in-law was an executive at PH Trams, “a fact that would have automatically disqualified the company from participating in the bidding.”

DJ Yap