THE anti-graft court has ordered the arrest of former Metro Rail Transit general manager Al Vitangcol in connection with the $30 million in graft charges filed against him by the representatives of the Inekon Group, the Czech supplier of rail cars.
The Sandiganbayan’s Sixth Division also ordered the arrest of businessman Wilson de Vera, Vitangcol’s co-accused in the graft cases against him.
The court released the arrest warrants on Vitangcol and De Vera last Monday and recommended a bail of P30,000 for each count of graft charged against the two.
Both Vitangcol and De Vera are facing separate cases before the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division over the alleged anomalous awarding of the contract for the MRT’s maintenance.
Based on the information filed by the Ombudsman, Vitangcol attempted to extort $30 million through De Vera from the Inekon representatives on July 9, 2012, in exchange for the awarding of a contract to it to supply train coaches to the MRT.
The extortion attempt allegedly was committed at the residence of then-Czech Ambassador to the Philippines Josef Rychtar in Forbes Park, Makati, the information from the Ombudsman said.
Aside from the attempted extortion, the Ombudsman said Vitangcol exerted undue pressure to the businessmen to enter into a joint venture agreement with “a group of persons” including De Vera for the MRT’s service contract.