Sacked Metro Rail Transit (MRT) general manager Al Vitangcol III is set to go on trial for graft after the Sandiganbayan Third Division terminated its pre-trial procedings in the alleged MRT maintenance contract mess. Vitangcol also “intentionally hid his [affinitive] relationship with Soriano, which would have automatically disqualified PH Trams,” the Ombudsman said. The MRT management entered into an interim maintenance contract with PH Trams in joint venture with CB&T in Oct. 2012, after deciding not to renew the contract with original maintenance provider Sumitomo Corp. Vitangcol also faces a separate graft trial for allegedly extorting $30 million from the Czech firm Inekon in exchange for contracts with the railway system. JE/rgaRELATED STORIESAfter graft rap due to MRT fiasco, Vitangcol pins down AbayaSandiganbayan denies Vitangcol’s bid to quash extort try rapsVitangcol to start trial for extortionMRT fiasco: Vitangcol indicted for graft, Abaya spared

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer June 05, 2017 09:16 UTC