Poe doubts Chavez’s resignation solely due to delicadeza

Senator Grace Poe on Thursday expressed doubt that newly-resigned Transportation Undersecretary for Rails Cesar Chavez’s stepping down was solely due to his sense of delicadeza.

While the senator, who heads the Senate committee on public services, said she respected Chavez’s decision and admired his sense of delicadeza, she “doubt[s] that that is the only reason that prompted him to resign.”

“He seemed to be one of the DOTr officials who was determined to fully address all the issues plaguing the [Metro Rail Transit]. I recall he was instrumental in unearthing the persons involved in anomalies that caused these issues,” Poe said in a statement without elaborating.

Chavez announced his resignation on Thursday morning, saying his “simple sense of delicadeza” gave him no choice but to step down. His move took place amid the near-daily glitches of the MRT3.

During his stint as Undersecretary for Rails, Chavez usually served as the main media resource person for official statements on MRT3’s service interruptions, glitches, accidents, and the actions of its officials.

It was also him who vowed, on behalf of the DOTr, that the operations of the MRT3 would improve after the expulsion of the train line’s "poorly performing" and "anomalous" maintenance provider.

Poe in her statement also called for the evaluation of the performance of the leadership of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) amid the recent spate of technical glitches suffered by the MRT3.

“However, it is time to evaluate the actions and the leadership of the DOTr as a whole in connection with how issues hounding the MRT have been addressed,” she said.

“These issues should be properly and expeditiously resolved despite Usec. Chavez’s resignation and especially considering the commuting horrors our people have to go through everyday,” she added.

Poe said she hoped President Rodrigo Duterte will find a capable and willing replacement for Chavez.

“I hope the President finds someone able and willing to take up the cudgels the Usec. left behind in order to finally ensure the safety and convenience of the riding public,” she said in the statement.

Meanwhile, Senator JV Ejercito said he expects a “back-to-zero” scenario and more problems in the ailing MRT3’s operations after Chavez’s resignation, as the person who will fill the vacated position needs time to be acquainted with the train line’s issues.

“I expect more delays and problems to arise in the coming days as whoever the new officer-in-charge needs time to be acquainted and to know the problems,” said Ejercito in a statement.

He also raised the supposed lack of rail or technology experts who can take over the position.

“Problem is, we do not really have rail or tech experts who can take over and is equipped with the knowledge already. Panibagong kapaan na naman ito,” he said.

Chavez's resignation was "sad," Ejercito said, as Chavez "is one of the more passionate DOTr officials specially on railway projects."

For his part, Senator Joel Villanueva, who puts Chavez in high regard, sounded off on the news on Twitter.

We have high respects for Usec. Cesar Chavez. He has been on the frontline uncovering anomalies in the MRT. His sudden resignation surprised us.
We thank him for his service & wish him well in his future endeavors. #prayersforPH #Vpositive

— Joel Villanueva (@senatorjoelv) November 23, 2017

At the end of the day, we want the MRT issue to be addressed ASAP. As a major thoroughfare in Metro Manila, hundreds of thousands are affected by the continuous failure of the government to address this problem. #tamanaturuan #solusyonnaman #Vpositive

— Joel Villanueva (@senatorjoelv) November 23, 2017

— MDM, GMA News