Vitangcol faces graft raps over alleged extort try on Czech firm

Former Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) general manager Al Vitangcol is facing graft charges over his alleged attempt to extort $30 million from representatives of the Czech firm Inekon Group.

Vitangcol is also accused of pressuring the representatives of Inekon Group. into entering into a joint venture agreement with his supposed “envoy” for the maintenance of the railway line.

The Ombudsman has filed two counts of violation of Section 3(b) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against Vitangcol and Wilson de Vera in connection with the deals they allegedly tried to seal with Inekon.

De Vera, an incorporator of Philippine Trans Rail Management and Services Corporation (PH Trams), has been tagged as Vitangcol’s “envoy” in transactions with Inekon’s representatives.

According to the information filed by the Ombudsman, Vitangcol used De Vera to try to extort $30 million from Inekon representatives on July 9, 2012 in exchange for the awarding of a contract to supply train coaches for MRT-3.

The alleged extortion attempt supposedly happened at the residence of then-Czech Ambassador to the Philippines Josef Rychtar in Forbes Park, Makati.

The Ombudsman said representatives from Inekon refused to give in to the extortion attempt by De Vera even after he reduced the amount to $2.5 million after consulting with Vitangcol over the phone.

After the attempt failed, De Vera supposedly told company officials to think about his and Vitangcol’s demand until their meeting at the then-MRT general manager’s office the following day.

Despite De Vera’s coaxing, Inekon officials refused to shell out money to bag the deal.

Aside from trying to extort $30 million from the Czech firm’s representatives, the Ombudsman said Vitangcol pressured the businessmen to enter into a joint venture agreement with “a group of persons” including De Vera for the MRT-3’s service contract.

Vitangcol allegedly proposed a 60-40 sharing agreement between Inekon and De Vera’s group during a meeting with the Czech firm’s officials in his office on July 10, 2012. The offer was made in Rychtar’s presence.

The Ombudsman said Vitangcol made the offer to Inekon since the existing maintenance contract with Sumitomo Corp. was about to expire at that time. The Czech firm’s officials, however, refused.

The multimillion-dollar maintenance contract was eventually awarded to the joint venture of Comm Builders and Technology Philippines Corporation (CB&T) and PH Trams.

Named as witnesses in Vitangcol’s graft cases are Rychtar, Inekon board of directors chairman Josef Husek and the records custodian of the MRT-3 and the former Department of Transportation and Communications.

The Ombudsman has recommended a P30,000 bail bond for each of the graft charges.

Vitangcol and De Vera are facing separate cases before the Sandiganbayan Third Divison over the alleged anomalous awarding of contract for the MRT-3’s maintenance.

Vitangcol had repeatedly denied the allegation and has filed perjury complaint against Rychtar. —KBK, GMA News