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Friday, March 29, 2024

Plunder raps eyed vs Abaya over MRT mess

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The Department of Transportation on Tuesday said it would pursue plunder charges against former Transportation secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and others who were indicted over the MRT 3 anomaly.

In a statement, Transport Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Reinier Paul R. Yerba said the department would take action against Abaya and others indicted for graft by the Office of the Ombudsman, as well as some officials who were cleared by it.

He said the department would consult with the Office of the Solicitor General about plunder charges against those indicted, as well as officials that the Ombudsman cleared, “in efforts to promote accountability and transparency.”

The Ombudsman’s special panel of investigators found that “extended unwarranted benefits, advantage and preference” were given to Busan Universal Rail Inc. of Busan Joint Venture despite it being “ineligible” and “unqualified” as it was “not technically, legally and financially capable to undertake the MRT 3 long-term maintenance contract.”

It further stated that “by allowing the award of the contract to the Busan JV despite the attendant glaring irregularities, Abaya deliberately ignored applicable laws, rules and regulations, and standard operating procedures, falling short of or disregarding the required competence expected of him in the performance of his official functions.”

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“We assure the public that the DOTr will get to the bottom of these anomalous contracts, and go after the people who sacrificed the welfare of MRT 3 riders in the name of personal interests,” the department statement said.

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