Embattled Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Joseph
Abaya believes that he remains the best man for his position even as he
braces to submit himself to a graft investigation by the Office of the
Ombudsman.
In a chance interview yesterday at the side lines of House plenary
deliberations on the agency’s 2015 budget, Abaya told reporters that he
neither plans to go on leave nor resign voluntarily.
“The first reaction is to prepare for it, not to go on leave. It
would be a disservice to our country if I take a leave. The issues in
the DOTC are complex. Whoever will replace me will have a lot of
catching up to do,” said the former representative of Cavite who once
served in the House as chairman of the powerful appropriations
committee.
Abaya is also the acting president of the ruling Liberal Party (LP).
“Unless instructed by the President, or any higher authority, or the
court, I believe the country will be better served with me manning the
ship,” he confidently declared.
In a chance interview yesterday at the side lines of House plenary
deliberations on the agency’s 2015 budget, Abaya told reporters that he
neither plans to go on leave nor resign voluntarily.
“The first reaction is to prepare for it, not to go on leave. It
would be a disservice to our country if I take a leave. The issues in
the DOTC are complex. Whoever will replace me will have a lot of
catching up to do,” said the former representative of Cavite who once
served in the House as chairman of the powerful appropriations
committee.
Abaya is also the acting president of the ruling Liberal Party (LP).
“Unless instructed by the President, or any higher authority, or the
court, I believe the country will be better served with me manning the
ship,” he confidently declared.
The graft probe on the LP leader has to do with the Office of the
Ombudsman-Field Investigation Office’s (OMB-FIO) findings that the
maintenance contract awarded to PH Trams-CB&T joint venture on
October 20, 2012 did not go through public bidding.
The previous agreement between MRT Corporation (MRTC) and Sumitomo
expired back in June 21, 2010 but had been extended until that October.
“I assumed office on Oct. 18, the Sumitomo contract was about to
expire on the 19th or 20th. I had to make a decision because otherwise, I
will stop the trains. At that point, we saw that we can justify an
emergency situation,” he said.
“Under the law, there should be preservation of infrastructure of the
government. It would be a bigger disaster if I took my time and go on
regular bidding,” Abaya said.
What happened instead was a “simplified bidding” involving three
companies “with common terms of reference,” the DOTC chief said,
referring to Sumitomo, Misako Rail and eventual contractor, PH Trams.
