DOTr sues 9 Aquino Cabinet members for plunder over MRT3 maintenance deal

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has filed a plunder complaints against nine top members of former President Benigno Aquino III' Cabinet over the allegedly shady P3.8-billion contract for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT)-Line 3.

Aside from former Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and former Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, who served as DOTC chief before Abaya. 

Other respondents are Former Budget and Management secretary Florencio Abad, former Finance secretary Cesar Purisima, former Energy secretary Jericho Petilla, former Science and Technology chief Mario Montejo, former Defense secretary Voltaire Gazmin, former Public Works and Highways secretary Rogelio Singson, and former National Development and Economic Administration secretary Arsenio Balicasan were also charged.

Also facing charges are former DOTC undersecretaries Edwin Lopez, Rene Limcaoco, and Catherine Gonzales, and former MRT-3 general manager Roman Buenafe.

A certain Marlo dela Cruz, bids and awards committee members, and officials from former MRT3 maintenance contractor, Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI) were also named respondents.

DOTr Undersecretary Reinier Yebra said they did not included Aquino as respondent because he was not a member of the Government Procurement and Policy Board.

It was the third complaint filed against Abaya, Limcaoco, and Buenafe at the Ombudsman in connection with the BURI maintenance contract for the MRT3.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, In a press conference,  assured the public that the government would go after the people liable for the deteriorating state of the MRT. "We must stress the great suffering of the riding public as the result of the failure to deliver on the responsibilities of public office such as the case of the current state of the MRT-3 system (that) carries consequences, and that those accountable will be held liable," He also said. "We are expecting that now that there's a formal complaint, the process will be speedy. Now that the Office of the Ombudsman acknowledges the predicaments of the public because of MRT woes, we are looking forward that they would give priority on investigating the issue," he added.