Palace spox to Ombudsman: Show independence on graft case vs. Abaya

The Office of the Ombudsman should show its “true independence in fighting corruption,” Malacañang said Tuesday, after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) filed a graft case against former Transportation chief Joseph Emilio Abaya.

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the filing of charges against Abaya over the allegedly anomalous maintenance deal for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3) is “long overdue.”

“Our people, especially the long suffering commuters of MRT who would experience daily train breakdowns during their travel, surely welcome this development,” Abella said.

“Public office, as we often hear, is public trust.  Let this be a good reminder to all public officials to perform their official functions with competence, integrity and compassion for they are accountable in all their action,” he added.

Abella said the graft case filed against Abaya is also “an opportunity for the Office of the Ombudsman to show its true independence in fighting corruption in the corridors of the power.”

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, an appointee of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, had been repeatedly criticized by President Rodrigo Duterte for her supposed selective justice.

Abaya was also appointed by former President Aquino to the now defunct Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

Aside from Abaya, several other former DOTC officials and employees, as well as officers and staff of MRT maintenance provider Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI) were included in the complaint filed by DOTr. — Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/RSJ, GMA News