Palace: Part of MRT maintenance money went to 'political machinery'

MANILA, Philippines — The government has a “whistle-blower” who can prove that part of the maintenance funds of the Metro Rail Transit 3 was used as part of the machinery of a political group, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

In a radio interview, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that one reason for the bad service and poor maintenance of the critical train line along EDSA was because a third of the money intended for its upkeep went to “political machinery.”

The president’s spokesperson, however, refused to answer if the said machinery was related to the previous administration.

Roque also divulged during the radio interview that another third of the money went to a so-called Pangasinan Group while the remaining third went to the dilapidated train line’s maintenance.

“One third (of the money) was paid to the political machinery and one third really went to the maintenance of MRT-3. If only one third of the funds were spent for the MRT, it would really break down,” the presidential spokesperson said.

When asked to identify the people behind the Pangasinan Group and the owners of the political fund, Roque said, “In due course.”

Roque said on Tuesday that President Rodrigo Duterte had asked Solicitor General Jose Calida to determine how officials of the Aquino administration, including former Transport Secretaries Joseph Emilio Abaya and Manuel “Mar” Roxas, could be made accountable for the MRT-3 mess.

Aside from Roxas and Abaya, former Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad’s liability was also being looked into, said Roque.

“This is for the award of the contract to a company with absolutely no track record,” Roque said, referring to the maintenance deal the previous government struck with Busan Universal Rail Inc.

Roque said that the government was also in the process of completing documentary evidence that would support the testimonies of the whistle-blowers in the issue.

The Department of Transportation last year filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against former transport officials and several former Cabinet officials in connection to the maintenance of the train line.

According to Roque, the government is ensuring the availability of spare parts as part of its short-term plan in improving the services of MRT-3.

In the medium run, Roque said, the administration was working for the return of the Japanese firm Sumitomo as MRT-3’s maintenance provider.

Then for its long-term goal the administration is looking at replacing of MRT-3’s ownership and rehabilitating its facilities including rails, coaches and signaling system.

Recently, it was revealed that the train line had only between seven to 10 trains which would service its around 250,000 passengers.

MRT-3 runs from Taft Avenue in Pasay City to North Avenue in Quezon City. It straddles EDSA, one the Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfares.