Vitangcol charged over $30-M extort
The Office of the Ombudsman has found probable cause to file two more graft charges against former Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3) general manager Al Vitangcol III, this time for his alleged attempt to extort $30 million from Czech railway firm Inekon Group in 2012.
Graft investigators said Vitangcol conspired with Wilson de Vera of Philippine Trans Rail Management and Services Corp. (PH Trams) in demanding money from the foreign company in exchange for a P3.7-billion supply and maintenance contract.
No less than Czech Ambassador Josef Rychtar and Inekon Group officials had exposed the anomaly in 2013, resulting in investigations and the filing of complaints against Vitangcol.
After an investigation, the ombudsman concluded there is sufficient basis to charge the former MRT-3 official and De Vera with criminal cases for twin violations of Section 3(b) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti- Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Investigators said the first criminal complaint would be for his alleged attempt to extort $30 million from Inekon, while the second would be for his reportedly coercing a foreign firm into signing a joint venture deal with a group of individuals for the maintenance of the MRT-3 train system.
Vitangcol, apart from criminal liability, was also found administratively liable for two counts of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and unlawful solicitation for which he was ordered dismissed from the service.
But since the order came out when Vitangcol was already dismissed, he was instead ordered to pay fines equivalent to his one-year salary.
Vitangcol was also ordered perpetually disqualified from holding public office and from taking the civil service examination, with forfeiture of retirement benefits and cancellation of eligibility.
The ombudsman said a $30-million advance payment – later reduced to $2.5 million – as well as forging a joint venture with a group favored by Vitangcol were among the preconditions set by the official, in conspiracy with De Vera, for Inekon to be awarded the contracts to supply additional light rail vehicles and maintain the MRT-3.
In its decision, the ombudsman took into consideration statements from Rychtar and Inekon representative Joseph Husek.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said the “totality of circumstances, taken together with the affirmative declarations of complainant’s witnesses,” convinced the anti-graft body that the failed attempt to extort from Inekon “was made upon the behest of Vitangcol.” The ombudsman added Vitangcol and De Vera had “conspired” to pressure Inekon representatives into signing a 60-40 joint venture agreement with certain individuals, one of whom turned out to be De Vera, an incorporator of PH Trams.