Poe slams Palace decision to keep Abaya

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Grace Poe on Friday hit Malacañang for its decision to keep Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya amid transport woes plaguing the country.

"Malacañang's reported statement that it is keeping Secretary Abaya at the DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications) is lamentable. Equally unfortunate is the secretary’s refusal to budge from his post amid the MRT mess," Poe said.

Poe, who chairs the Senate sub-committee on transport, said she is hoping President Benigno Aquino III will heed the call of the public to appoint another person as chief of the state agency.

"Umaasa ako na pakikinggan pa rin ni Pangulong Aquino ang panawagan ng mga tao na magtalaga ng bagong pinuno ng DOTC na may kakayahan at kikilos nang mabilis at maayos para naman magkaroon ng kaginhawaan ang mga mananakay ng MRT-3 kahit sa natitirang limang buwan ng administrasyong ito," she said.

"Kahit sinong makakita ng kilo-kilometrong pila sa mga istasyon araw-araw at makaranas na makipagsiksikan sa train na kadalasan ay tumitirik ay hindi na magdadalawang isip na may malaking problema sa sistema ng MRT3," she added.

Poe, who is running for president in 2016, said the administration had all the resources to fix the MRT mess since day one.

"Let us stop invoking the original sin through the disadvantageous contract entered into by the past administrations on the MRT-3. Let us get along with this deal and gather our resources to fix whatever we can," she said.

The senator added that there is uncertainty about the safety of the trains as the South Korean Busan Transport Corp. reportedly opted out. The German-Filipino maintenance provider also rejected the extension of its services, she said.

"What’s the real score, Secretary Abaya?  Who is maintaining the trains right now?  What guarantee can you give that it is safe to board the trains?" Poe said.