MANILA -- Militant groups filed on Monday a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against former officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) over the alleged anomalous P3.8-billion maintenance contract with the Busan Joint Venture.

Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes, Bayan Muna chair Neri Colmenares and other representatives from the Agham and Train Riders Network (Tren) on Monday, November 20, filed a complaint for graft and violation of the procurement law.

Charged were former DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya, former Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) general manager Roman Buenafe and former Undersecretary Rene Limcaoco for approving the said contract, which the complainants claimed, had caused the current dismal service of the MRT-3.

According to the complainants, the Busan Universal Rail Inc. (Buri) had no financial and technical capability to maintain the MRT-3; they apparently merely circumvented the guidelines in order for them to pass the qualifications as a maintenance provider.

Reyes said that the first complaint filed by the current Department of Transportation (DoTr) against the former DOTC officials was insufficient; hence, they still have to file another complaint against the same.

The DoTr earlier charged the former DOTC officials before the Ombudsman over the alleged questionable awarding of the contract to the Buri, when in fact, the Busan Joint Venture was the original one who participated in the bidding. (PNA)