INSTEAD of threatening to sue Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya over the problems of Metro Manila’s train lines, Senator Grace Poe should instead look for a solution and craft a law that will address the issue, a Palace official said Saturday.
“Well, if the senator is of that opinion, I think it would be very easy for her. She is a member of the Senate and in aid of legislation she could look into things,” said Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III.
“It’s strange that she would threaten to go to court when, as a member of the Senate, she could look into a situation, find shortcomings and craft a law for the purpose,” Quezon said.
“Upon mature reflection, the good senator will realize that Secretary Abaya has been transparent,” he said, admitting that most people are very unhappy about the problems of the MRT system.
Poe on Friday said that the Senate subcommittee on public services will soon submit a report on its inquiry into the MRT problem and it will recommend the filing of charges against Abaya.
Last year, the Office of the Ombudsman conducted a preliminary investigation into the alleged irregularities in the MRT-3 interim maintenance contract.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales excluded Abaya from the officials that were recommended to be charged with graft over the MRT deal.
Poe, who had repeatedly asked Abaya to resign from the post, questioned the Ombudsman’s decision.
Last Monday, the Transportation Department said Monday it is set to meet with the Finance Department next month to resolve issues raised by two government banks over the takeover of Metro Rail Transit Line 3.
“We are hoping [to buy out MRT Corp. by June] and we have set up a meeting first week February with the DoF,” Abaya said, reiterating that a government takeover of the train line is one of the solutions to its many problems.
Abaya said the remaining challenge was the financial issue raised by Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines on possible losses once the government executed the buyout.