Unfair to blame Roxas for traffic, MRT mess, says Robredo

Liberal Party’s (LP) vice presidential bet Leni Robredo came to the defense of LP standard-bearer Mar Roxas, saying it is unfair for the people to blame her running mate for the worsening traffic and the sorry state of Metro Rail Transit (MRT).

“I think it would be very unfair for everyone to blame Secretary Mar (for the transportation problems). He was only the secretary of Department of Transportation and Communication for only about a year or a little more than that,” said Robredo at the Pandesal Forum in Kamuning Bakery on Tuesday.

Roxas, who was the transportation secretary from July 2011 to October 2012, was blamed by many, including his political rivals, for the misery of commuters.

The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay said the “downhill slide” of the MRT started during the tenure of Roxas as transportation secretary.

“Palagay ko lahat ng problema sa transportation could be traced from way, way back. ’Yung problem na-compound for so many years. Napabayaan talaga,” said Robredo.

And because the past administrations failed to provide a long-term solution for the MRT and traffic issues, Robredo said the Aquino administration was left with the burden of the previous presidents.

“‘Yung administration ngayon ang naghahabol sa kulang,” she said.