Malacañang on Thursday vowed to disclose more details about the alleged corruption involving the maintenance of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) which have been plagued by breakdowns and numerous glitches.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said two individuals previously involved in the MRT operations have come forward to shed light on the corrupt practices of a certain "Pangasinan Group."
Roque said the group siphoned off two-thirds of the P3.8-billion contract with Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI), leaving only a third for maintenance funds.
"It’s now in the process of investigation, and this is what I promised to do. I have some documentary evidence already. Perhaps beginning next week, I will devote one day a week in disclosing facts and details about the plunder of MRT3," Roque said in a press briefing.
"But I have documents already. I’m just giving notice to the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] and DOJ [Department of Justice] before I go public with the documents. But I promised that this will be a continuing activity that we will have here, and which is dissecting the plunder of MRT3," he added.
The Palace official said he may also refer former MRT general manager Al Vitangcol to the NBI so the latter could give his statement on the alleged anomaly.
Vitangcol himself is facing cases before the Sandiganbayan over his alleged attempt to extort $30 million from a Czech light rail vehicles supplier and irregularities in the transit system's interim maintenance contract during his stint as MRT chief.
Roque's move comes as President Rodrigo Duterte directed the filing of new charges against officials of the previous administration and other individuals over the poor state of the MRT.
Previously, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) filed a plunder complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman against nine former Cabinet members of then-President Benigno Aquino III over the contract.
Among the respondents are former Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, former Interior Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.
"We are hoping that the Ombudsman is conducting its own parallel investigation because an official complaint has already been filed," Roque said.
"Kaya nga inaasahan natin na magiging patas ang ating Ombudsman. Bagama’t siya po ay kaalyado ng nakaraang administrasyon, naniniwala naman ako na kung may ebidensiya dapat lalo pang paigtingin ng Ombudsman ang imbestigasyon (na) gagawin niya. Dahil napakadami naman po talagang nagdusa dito sa MRT," he said.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said two individuals previously involved in the MRT operations have come forward to shed light on the corrupt practices of a certain "Pangasinan Group."
Roque said the group siphoned off two-thirds of the P3.8-billion contract with Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI), leaving only a third for maintenance funds.
"It’s now in the process of investigation, and this is what I promised to do. I have some documentary evidence already. Perhaps beginning next week, I will devote one day a week in disclosing facts and details about the plunder of MRT3," Roque said in a press briefing.
"But I have documents already. I’m just giving notice to the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] and DOJ [Department of Justice] before I go public with the documents. But I promised that this will be a continuing activity that we will have here, and which is dissecting the plunder of MRT3," he added.
The Palace official said he may also refer former MRT general manager Al Vitangcol to the NBI so the latter could give his statement on the alleged anomaly.
Vitangcol himself is facing cases before the Sandiganbayan over his alleged attempt to extort $30 million from a Czech light rail vehicles supplier and irregularities in the transit system's interim maintenance contract during his stint as MRT chief.
Roque's move comes as President Rodrigo Duterte directed the filing of new charges against officials of the previous administration and other individuals over the poor state of the MRT.
Previously, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) filed a plunder complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman against nine former Cabinet members of then-President Benigno Aquino III over the contract.
Among the respondents are former Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, former Interior Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.
"We are hoping that the Ombudsman is conducting its own parallel investigation because an official complaint has already been filed," Roque said.
"Kaya nga inaasahan natin na magiging patas ang ating Ombudsman. Bagama’t siya po ay kaalyado ng nakaraang administrasyon, naniniwala naman ako na kung may ebidensiya dapat lalo pang paigtingin ng Ombudsman ang imbestigasyon (na) gagawin niya. Dahil napakadami naman po talagang nagdusa dito sa MRT," he said.
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