THE Sandiganbayan convicted Al Vitangcol 3rd, ex-general manager of the Metro Rail Transit 3, and an uncle of graft.In a ruling promulgated by the Third Division on January 31 but released on Thursday, the court found Vitangcol and Arturo Soriano guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in connection with the award of the MRT-3 interim maintenance deal in 2012 to PH Trams and Comm Builders and Technology Philippines Corporation (CB&T).Vitangcol awarded the contract to the company where Soriano, an uncle by marriage, was then-PH Trams incorporator.'In this case, accused Vitangcol 3rd clearly gave unwarranted benefit and advantage to PH Trams when he concealed the fact of his relationship with co-accused Soriano, one of the [then-] incorporators of PH Trams', the court said in part.It also found the two guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violation of Section 65 paragraph C(1) of the Government Procurement Reform Act, in relation to Section 47 of its implementing rules and regulations.'Here, it is undeniable that accused Vitangcol 3rd and accused Arturo Soriano are related to each other within the third civil degree of affinity, since the latter and the mother of accused Vitangcol 3rd's wife are siblings', the court said in part.Vitangcol and Soriano were acquitted of the charge of violation of Section 3(h) of the anti-graft law.The court acquitted Wilson de Vera, Marlo de la Cruz, Manolo Maralit, and Federico Remo of all the charges.
