THE Sandiganbayan’s Third Division on Thursday found probable cause to put on trial former MRT-3 general manager Al Vitangcol III on graft charges in connection with the questionable awarding of the contract for the train system’s maintenance.
“After a careful review of the records of these cases, the Court finds that probable cause exists against all the accused in all the charges against them,” the graft court said in its two-page resolution.
It backed the accusations of the Office of the Ombudsman, pointing out that Vitangcol and his co-accused committed graft.
The graft court also issued three hold-departure orders against Vitangcol and separate HDOs against his co-accused.
Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang directed the Immigration bureau to bar all accused from leaving the country.
On Dec. 1, the Ombudsman filed graft charges against Vitangcol, along with executives of a private corporation, before the Sandiganbayan in connection with alleged irregular MRT-3 interim maintenance contract.
Named co-accused were executives of the PH Trams incorporators Wilson de Vera, Marlo de la Cruz, Manolo Maralit, Federico Remo and Vitangcol’s uncle-in-law, Arturo Soriano, who is now the provincial accountant of Pangasinan.
Vitangcol was accused of conspiracy with PH Transcom officials to ensure the awarding of the contract despite the fact that PH Trams could have been automatically disqualified from participating in the procurement of the MRT-3 maintenance contract since Vitangcol was Soriano’s relative.
As head of the negotiating team and bids and awards committee member, Vitangcol “intentionally concealed” his relationship with Soriano to ensure the awarding, instead of disqualifying PH Trams from the bidding.
The anti-graft court issued arrest warrant against Vitangcol, who posted a P90,000 bail or P30,000 each for three counts of graft last Friday.