After MRT deal, China trains should be next

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) should make public the result of the independent audit on the P3.8-billion Dalian trains that remain unused due to their incompatibility with the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) tracks, a militant group said yesterday.

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) made the call after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the filing of graft charges against former transportation secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and 16 others in connection with the MRT-3 maintenance deal with Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI). 

“After the ombudsman found probable cause to indict Abaya and other officials of the previous administration for the questionable MRT-3 contracts, the next issue to be resolved should be the Dalian trains from China,”Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes said.

Reyes said the contract entered into by the previous administration with Chinese firm Dalian for the purchase of 48 coaches was questionable, citing legal and technical issues.

“Cases should be filed against those responsible for the Dalian contract,”he said.

“We worry if there is pressure from the Chinese government to push through with the questionable deal,” Reyes added.

Last April, the DOTr completed the weight testing of the 48 trains as part of the auditing process.

DOTr officials earlier considered the return of the Dalian trains due to problems regarding incompatible signaling systems.

Reyes said the DOTr should make clear its position on the matter.

“The trains should be returned to the Chinese firm,” he said.

The ombudsman found probable cause to indict Abaya for graft over the P4.25-billion contract awarded to BURI for the upgrade and maintenance of the MRT-3.

The anti-graft agency, however, cleared Abaya and his predecessor, Mar Roxas as well as seven other officials of the Aquino administration, of plunder.