Rosette Adel | Philstar | February 18, 2016
MANILA, Philippines – Former Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 General Manager Al Vitangcol III on Thursday submitted before the Supreme Court (SC) his affidavit tagging former Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and now Liberal Party’s standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II as one of those involved in the train's maintenance contract mess.
In his affidavit supporting his motion for reconsideration dated Nov. 3, 2015, and his application for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) and writ of preliminary injunction, Vitangcol disclosed the full account of his knowledge and participation in all transactions concerning the MRT 3.
Vitangcol blames Roxas for MRT 3 woes and questioned why the presidential candidate was not impleaded by the Ombudsman in his case. He said Roxas deliberately neglected the MRT3's procurement requests.
The also earlier questioned why current DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya was also spared from the graft case.
The former MRT chief said he hopes his affidavit will help the court arrive at a “fair and impartial resolution of his motion for reconsideration and application for a TRO and injunction.”
Vitangcol and his legal counsel filed an omnibus motion before the SC asking the high tribunal to prosecute the Sandiganbayan’s third division and to be granted leave to file and admit his affidavit.
“WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, it is most respectfully prayed that this Honorable Court a) IMPLEAD the Sandiganbayan Third Division as respondent and be temporarily and preliminarily and, after due proceedings be, permanently restrained enjoined from proceeding with preliminary conference, pre-trial and/or trial in the case entitled People of the Philippines vs Al Sanchez Vitangcol et al docketed as SB-15-CRM-0293 to 95, and b) GRANT Petitioner leave to file and admit his attached affidavit dated 15 February 2016,” Vitangcol’s omnibus motion’s prayer read.
On December 1, Vitangcol and five other officials of the Philippine Trans Rail Management and Services Corp. were charged by the Ombudsman graft and corruption. He allegedly violated the Anti-Graft Act over the award of an MRT-3 interim maintenance contact without public bidding in 2012.
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