Ex-MRT exec Vitangcol pleads not guilty in $30-M extort try case

Former Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 general manager Al Vitangcol III pleaded not guilty to graft charges before the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday over his alleged attempt to extort $30-million from representatives of Czech firm Inekon in 2012.

Vitangcol 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. His co-accused in the case is businessman Wilson de Vera.

The case stemmed after Vitangcol allegedly tried to extort money from the Czech company for the supply of additional light rail vehicles (LRV) and maintenance of the MRT under the P3.7-billion MRT-3 expansion project in 2012.

The contract for the LRVs was later awarded to CNR Dalian of China, while the maintenance deal was awarded to PH Trams after Inekon denied the extort try. 

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

The Sixth Division had earlier junked the quashal motion of the former MRT official to drop the charges against him.

Vitangcol is facing separate graft charges at the Sandiganbayan over the alleged irregularities in the MRT's $1.15 million interim maintenance contract with PH Trams and Comm Builders and Technology Philippines Corporation. — MDM, GMA News