THE graft complaint filed against former Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya provides an opportunity for the Office of the Ombudsman to show its "true independence" in fighting corruption, MalacaƱang said on Tuesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the government welcomed the move of the Department of Transport (DOTr) to file graft complaint against Abaya and other former officials allegedly involved in the purportedly shady P3.8-billion contract with Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI) for the maintenance of Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3.
Abella said the filing of charges was "long overdue."
"Our people, especially the long-suffering commuters of MRT who would experience daily train breakdowns during their travel, surely welcome this development," he said in a press conference.
"Public office, as we often hear, is a 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 for all their action," he added.
The DOTR filed a graft complaint before the Ombudsman, accusing Abaya, 10 former transportation officials, and 10 BURI incorporators for alleged violation the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
It added that respondents were in connivance to forge a deal that was "manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the government."
Former President Benigno Aquino III appointed Abaya on October 18, 2012 as secretary of the defunct Department of Transportation and Communications.
Abella said the government expects that the anti-graft body, headed by Aquino's appointee, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, would be nonpartisan in handling Abaya's case.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said he wanted Morales impeached for practicing selective justice. (SunStar Philippines)