Former DOTr Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya
QUEZON CITY, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman has indicted former Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and 16 others over the controversial P4.2 billion MRT maintenance deal.
A statement released Monday (June 25) said Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales found probable cause to charge Abaya, in his capacity as DOTr Secretary, for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act over the anomalous MRT maintenance contract.”
The Ombudsman cited the Commission on Audit’s (COA) Consolidated Annual Audit Report (CAAR) for 2016, which stated that “DOTr failed to provide the riding public with a safe and comfortable transport” because it allowed an “ineligible and unqualified entity” Busan JV/BURI to undertake the implementation of the project.
COA’s Consolidated Resolution stated that “by allowing the award of the contract to 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.”
Reacting to the findings of the Ombudsman, Abaya’s spokesperson Atty. Enricka Gonzales, in a statement, said “We find this decision unfortunate, considering that Sec. Jun laid out his defense against the poorly-crafted and unsubstantiated complaint filed by the DOTr.”
“Secretary Abaya will consult with his lawyers once they receive an official copy of the decision about his next course of action,” Gonzales further noted.
Also respondents to the case are DOTr Undersecretary Edwin Lopez, Rene Limcaoco (Head of Negotiating Team) and Catherine Jennifer Francis Gonzales (Vice-Head, Negotiating Team); MRT General Manager Roman Buenafe; Camille Alcaraz (Assistant Secretary for Procurement); and Ofelia Astrera (Vice-Chairperson, MRT3 Bids and Awards Committee), among others. – Rey Pelayo / Marje Pelayo
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