MANILA, Philippines - Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya on Monday claimed that President Benigno Aquino III was only "excited" when he promised to be run over by a train if the extension of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line-1 was delayed.
"Excited lang si pangulo... Campaign events tend to excite. It's just the desire to deliver service," Abaya said in an interview with ANC's Headstart.
In 2013, Aquino promised that the extension of the LRT-1 in Cavite will start by 2015.
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. earlier clarified that the project was only under the bidding process when the president made the statement.
READ: Palace: Understand context in PNoy’s vow to be run over by train
"President Aquino was not incorporating failed bids in his speech. These are unfortunate, fortuitous events so we eventually awarded this," the transportation secretary said.
Abaya said that he and Aquino would not have to be run over by a train as the project was already awarded to a concessionaire last year.
In September 2015, the LRT-1 extension project was awarded to the consortium Ayala and Metro Pacific in partnership with Macquarie Investments.
On the other hand, Abaya insisted that he will not resign from his post unless Aquino tells him to do so.
"I can go anytime... I see President Aquino very often and you know when he wants you to go. I'm here to serve. I'm here to help him," Abaya said.
Aquino earlier stressed that Abaya will keep his job until he steps down at the end of his six-year term despite drawing flak for the troubled Metro Rail Transit operations.
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