Vitangcol arraignment for graft raps postponed anew

The Sandiganbayan has postponed anew the arraignment of former Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) general manager Al Vitangcol III for his graft charges over his alleged attempt to extort $30 million from representatives of Czech firm Inekon.

His arraignment at the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division, which was scheduled on Thursday, was canceled and moved to August 2 as the petition for certiorari he filed with the Supreme Court is still pending.

Vitangcol, along with businesswoman Wilson de Vera, was charged with two counts of violation of Section 3(b) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in connection with the deals they allegedly tried to seal with Inekon.

Aside from the alleged extortion attempt, Vitangcol was also accused of pressuring the representatives of Inekon into entering into a joint venture agreement with his supposed "envoy" for the maintenance of MRT-3.

Vitangcol's arraignment was set as early as January this year, but it was canceled as the court then had yet to resolve his motion to quash.

The court eventually denied his quashal bid, as well as his motion for reconsideration appealing the denial.

Meanwhile, Vitangcol's trial for his cases in connection with the alleged irregularities in the MRT-3's interim maintenance contract will start in September.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division handles these cases. —KG, GMA News