Rychtar has alleged that Vitangcol is the mastermind of an attempt to extort $30-million from Czech company Inekon Group, which was interested in the contract to supply and maintain the EDSA MRT.
“Pinag-aaralan na po ito ng mga abogado natin. Gumagawa na po tayo ng karampatang hakbang and we will be filing legal actions against the ambassador,” Vitangcol said in a press briefing aired on GMA News’ “24 Oras” Wednesday evening.
Vitangcol said he may file cases of false testimony and perjury versus Rychtar.
In his affidavits submitted to National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and to the House of Representatives committee on good government and public accountability, Rychtar said that Vitangcol, through an alleged emissary, Wilson De Vera, asked Inekon officials to pay $30 million, which was eventually lowered to $2.5 million, in exchange for the awarding of contract to supply coaches for Metro Rail Transit (MRT) expansion project.
Rychtar said the alleged extortion attempt took place in a meeting in his residence on July 9, 2012.
Vitangcol maintained that he was not present during the meeting and that De Vera was not his emissary.
“Wala po tayong contact sa kanya (De Vera) and based on his affidavit, sinasabi niya na he is acting as the director of PH Trams and he is not acting on my behalf and in fact he even mentioned there (in the affidavit) that he does not know me personally,” Vitangcol said.
De Vera had earlier confirmed that he was at the meeting at Rychtar’s house but only to represent Philippine Trans Rail Management and Services Corporation (PH Trams), a company in which De Vera is one of the incorporators.
The P3.8-billion contract for the supply of 48 new MRT coaches was awarded to CNR Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock Co. of China after Inekon was disqualified from the bidding. The maintenance contract, on the other hand, was awarded to PH Trams and its partner Commbuilders and Technology Philippines Corporation (CB&T).
Vitangcol said he may file the charges within the week if Rychtar will accept his challenge to shed his diplomatic immunity.
“Remember, sa Senate hearing chinallenge ko siya, ‘Mr. Ambassador, I challenge you to shed your immunity and face me in court’. So, eto na po yun,” De Vera said.
Under the United Nations (UN) Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, ambassadors and heads of states should be given protection from any lawsuit in their host countries.
