Palace: Understand context in PNoy’s vow to be run over by train

MANILA, Philippines – A Palace official on Tuesday said that President Benigno Aquino III’s promise to be run over by a train should not be taken literally and appealed to the public that the context of the statement must be understood.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. asked the public to understand the delay in the extension of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line-1 in Cavite as promised by Aquino in May 2013 and clarified that it was only under the bidding process during that period.

Coloma said that the project was only awarded to the consortium Ayala and Metro Pacific in September 2015 in partnership with Macquarie Investments.

“Unawain natin ‘yung konteksto ng sinabi ng Pangulo. Ito ay pagpupulong sa lalawigan ng Cavite at batid naman natin ‘yung Cavite ang may pinakamaraming—pinakamalaking populasyon at ito ay karatig lalawigan ng Metro Manila kaya mahalaga talaga ‘yung mass transport system. Iyong kasalukuyang LRT Line 1 na mula Monumento hanggang Baclaran, ang unang layunin ay ma-extend ito mula Baclaran hanggang Bacoor,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a press briefing.

Coloma was reacting to the public’s comment on Aquino’s statement three years ago, where the president said that he is ready to be run over by train if the LRT extension is not finished this year. He said Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya was also in on the promise.

The statement became a joke that some members of the public did not forget three years later, and social media was abuzz and made a countdown awaiting for Aquino and Abaya to deliver on the promise.

READ: P-Noy suicide over LRT-1 failure?

Since the LRT extension is far from completion, Coloma said the government made all efforts to improve the mass transport system in the country. He again appealed for public’s understanding.

“Ang ipinapakita ng lahat ng aksyon na ito ay ‘yung buong determinasyon ng pamahalaan na mapahusay ‘yung sistema ng transportasyon. Baka naman mas lohikal o mas makatuwiran na hindi naman maging literal ‘yung interpretation natin, at unawain natin na gustong-gusto talaga ng Pangulo na mapahusay ‘yung serbisyo doon. Seryoso siya doon sa determinasyon na mabigyan ng isang mahusay na mass transport system,” Coloma said.

“Unawain lang ng ating mga kababayan na hindi ganoon kadali ‘yung pagbubuo ng ganyang proyekto ngunit dahil desidido ang pamahalaan ay buo naman ‘yung determinasyon na maipatupad ito at makumpleto ito,” he added.

Asked for the timetable on the completion of the LRT extension, Coloma said the consortium will be the one to speak about it.

“Hintayin natin ang magiging pahayag ng consortium hinggil diyan pero ang tiyak natin ay isasagawa na nila ito dahil na-award na nga sa kanila ‘yung proyekto,” Coloma said.