Ex-MMDA boss blasts Abaya for MRT woes, backs return of Marcos ill-gotten wealth, rejects medical marijuana

FORMER Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chief Francis Tolentino blamed the Aquino administration’s Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) for the problems plaguing surrounding the Metro Rail Transit (MRT).

During the ABS-CBN senatorial forum “Harapan 2019” on Sunday night, Tolentino said former DOTC secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and other past officials should be held liable for the MRT mess, whih stemmed from an allegedly anomalous maintenance contract between the government and the Busan Joint Venture in 2016.

In June last year, the Office of the Ombudsman found basis to charge Abaya and 16 others with graft because of the contract.

Meanwhile, Tolentino said he was against the legalization of medical marijuana in the country.

He said that there were no strong studies yet to prove such claim.

He also said that he has never tried using the drug.

The former political adviser of the President also said he would back asking the family of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos to return their ill-gotten wealth if proven guilty.

Last year, the Sandiganbayan found the former first lady, Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos, guilty on seven counts of graft related to private organizations created in Switzerland while she was a government official from 1968 to 1986.