DOTC awaits NBI findings on probe of extort try on MRT supply contract

The Department of Transportation and Communication said the alleged extortion case involving the contract for new MRT coaches and a Czech firm that vied for the supply deal is not yet closed.

 

DOTC spokesman Atty. Michael Arthur Sagcal said the department is waiting for the results of the probe by the National Bureau of Investigation.

 

“Sila (NBI) ang may otoridad na magtawag ng mga witness. Sa DOTC kasi, yung administrative investigation, limitado ang scope niyan. Hindi namin pwedeng pilitin yung mga hindi taga-DOTC na lumapit,” DOTC spokesperson Atty. Michael Arthur Sagcal said.

 

The NBI declined to give a statement on the case because their investigation is still underway.

 

CNR Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock Co. of China got the P3.8 billion contract to supply the DOTC 48 new MRT coaches for the EDSA light rail line.

 

At the House of Representatives, the committee on good government and public accountability is weighing the value of the unsigned documents Ambassador Joseph Rychtar submitted to the committee.

 

In an affidavit submitted to the House of Representatives committee on good government and public accountability, Rychtar said DOTC tried to extort $30 million from the Czech-based company Inekon Group in exchange for the awarding of a contract to supply the MRT coaches.

 

The affidavit, however, was not signed by Rychtar, GMA News' “24 Oras” reported Wednesday evening.

 

Rychtar, who exposed the similar allegation in July 2013 through the broadsheet Philippine Star, said the alleged extortion attempt first took place over a dinner on July 9, 2012, between him, Inekon Group board chairman Josef Husek, another Inekon executive certain Haloun, MRT General Manager Al Vitangcol, a certain businessman Wilson de Vera and a certain M. de la Cruz.

 

In his affidavit, a copy of which was obtained by GMA News, Rychtar said that Vitangcol left after the dinner, while the group headed to Rychtar's residence to continue the discussion about the MRT project. That was when, Rychtar said de Vera attempted to extort the Inekon officials.

 

“He went straight to the point of suggesting the payment from Inekon to secure the deal from them. I think everybody was surprised with this suggestion of Mr. W de Vera, which was 30 million USD,” said Rychtar in his affidavit.

 

Rychtar said Husek refused to make such payment.

 

“What I understood from the following discussion was that Mr. Husek tried to explain to Mr. De Vera that this request is so high that it could mean that the price of their product would have to rise up significantly,” Rychtar said in the affidavit.

 

But after making two phone calls, Rychtar said that de Vera went back inside the house and lowered the amount to $2.5 million.

 

“Finally, the Czech company (Inekon) did not participate in the bidding process due to its unclear terms of reference and suspicious circumstances around the bidding process itself,” Rychtar said.
 

Rychtar has alleged that de Vera was the emissary of Vitangcol.

 

Sought for a reaction, Vitangcol said in a text message, “Huh? What about it? DOTC had awarded the contract to a Chinese firm already. Inekon is only sourgraping. In my case I had been cleared by DOTC. Nothing more to discuss.”  — Elizabeth Marcelo/ELR, GMA News