QUEZON City, Philippines – Former Transportation Secretary Jun Abaya denied there was any anomaly in the procurement of new trains and in the maintenance contract of the Metro Rail Transit.
This despite Abaya indirectly admitting that PH Trams, who became the MRT-3’s maintenance contractor for nine months in 2012-2013, won the contract even if it was undercapitalized and newly incorporated.
During the Senate Committee on public services hearing chaired by Senator Grace Poe on Monday, he was quick to add, however, that he approved the contract with the newborn company without him knowing the company’s background.
He said he did not check its background because he was a new Cabinet secretary at that time.
He noted that he did not want to appear like a “doubting Thomas,” lest stakeholders stop working, and services be disrupted.
“You have to understand,” he said.
Abaya also noted that the new trains may be used after the signal incompatibility has been fixed.