Theory of MRT sabotage is DOTr finger-pointing, says BURI

The former maintenance provider of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 said that it is impossible for the black box of the train car that uncoupled last week to go missing.

In a press conference, Buri Universal Rail, Inc. internal legal counsel and spokesperson Charles Mercado said that the "sabotage" theory raised by Transportation Undersecretary for Rails Cesar Chavez was just the latter's way of "desperately making excuses and finger-pointing."

Mercado added that this was Chavez's attempt of misleading the public away from the real issues.

"Yung Messma card baka hindi missing, baka sila mismo nagtago n'on? Pero may reading eh, hindi naman sila magkakaroon ng reading kung not through the card," Mercado said.

"Kasi ganito 'yan. Parang port 'yon, para ma-download mo yung information ng machine, magsasaksak ka ng card, parang USB card. Paano nila malalaman 'yung ibang information kung hindi nila nakuha 'yung card?" he added.

"Nag-presscon sila non, nagbigay sila ng information, the mere fact that they were able to give some information, they were able to access the card tapos sasabihin nila ngayon missing yung card, with the persons of interest. This is all nebulous eh. They're just creating innuendo," Mercado said.

Protocols

Mercado said that the train involved in the uncoupling completed two to three loops before the incident happened. He added that the train coupler and the Messma machine—the aforementioned black box that records the train status and driver reactions—undergo four important procedures daily and are serviced as part of the regular maintenance.

Mercado said that every night, these components are included in the train preparation supervised by yard engineers.

This is followed by an inspection by senior engineers and a sign-off on the inspection documents.

The final step is the driver's confirmation or train check.

Mercado said that both components could only fail if these protocols were not followed by the maintenance, technical and management teams.

He said that the BURI had no participation in the protocols since the DOTr terminated its contract on November 6.

Last week, Chavez said that the uncoupled train car's Messma card or the black box had gone missing.

He had also raised the possibility of sabotage which will be investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation. — BM, GMA News