Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) General Manager Rodolfo Garcia died Wednesday evening after testing positive from the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). He was 77.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) confirmed his death Wednesday evening.
DOTr PRESS STATEMENT
10 February 2021It is with a heavy heart to learn of the passing of one of the members of the DOTr family, MRT-3 General Manager Rodolfo Garcia earlier this evening..
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— DOTrPH ???????? (@DOTrPH) February 10, 2021
“It is with a heavy heart to learn of the passing of one of the members of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) family, MRT-3 General Manager Rodolfo Garcia earlier this evening,” the DOTr said in a statement.
It is not clear if Covid-19 was the cause of Garcia’s death, but the DOTr did confirm last month that Garcia tested positive for Covid-19 and was in intensive care.
It was also in January when the MRT-3 was hit by another Covid-19 outbreak in its depot in Quezon City. A total of 42 employees tested positive from the virus. One employee died. Back in July 2020, over 200 workers tested positive for Covid-19.
“The entire DOTr family wishes to condole with the bereaved family of Gen. Garcia. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
We acknowledge and highly appreciate Gen. Garcia for sharing his expertise, knowledge and leadership. We recognize his untiring effort to improve the state of the MRT-3,” the statement continued.
Garcia, a member of the Philippine Military Academy class of 1969 and a retired police general, was chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Intelligence Group during the administration of Pres. Fidel Ramos. Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed him chief of PNP Region 12.
He was appointed general manager of MRT-3 on March 3, 2017 by President Rodrigo Duterte. – Rommel F. Lopez