Poe: Abaya liable for graft

DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Presidential aspirant Sen. Grace Poe said there were “strong indications” that Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) officials led by Transport Secretary Joseph Abaya violated the antigraft law for neglecting the problems hounding the Metro Railway Transit (MRT) 3.

In her report as chair of the subcommittee on public services, Poe recommended that the Office of the Ombudsman, the Department of Justice and the Civil Service Commission investigate the DOTC officials for graft.

The committee conducted five public hearings on the MRT’s plight.

“In the course of the inquiry with regard to malfunction problems of the MRT3, the Sub-Committee observed the badges of negligence and inaction of [DOTC] officials led by Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya indicating insensitiveness, callous indifference and acts disadvantageous to the commuters, the Filipino public and the Government,” Poe said in the 45-page report.

She said the subcommittee report should be submitted to the government agencies “for appropriate action.”

The report “must be considered as initial leads as there are strong indications of violations of Republic Act No. 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.”

Poe earlier called on President Aquino to replace Abaya, describing the Transportation Secretary as incompetent and shortsighted.

She said the country needs a DOTC chief who would keep a close watch on the problems besetting the rail system.

She had also warned that the safety of commuters taking the MRT was at risk, since there was no daily maintenance of the trains, inspections for cracks and testing of signaling.