THE testimony of former Metro Rail Transit (MRT) general manager Al Vitangcol III may count as additional evidence of supposed irregularities in the controversial P3.8-billion deal for the train system's maintenance, MalacaƱang said Thursday, March 22.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said Vitangcol was not one of the two whistleblowers who had come forward and tipped him off about the corruption in the MRT-Line 3.
Roque, however, said the government is open to listening to Vitangcol's allegation of corrupt practices in the management of the mass transit system, noting that the latter's expose could help the government file additional charges against individuals who are accountable for the MRT-3's woes.
"I have not yet talked to Al Vitangcol. He is not obviously my whistleblower. As in fact, he says my whistleblowers' testimonies -- I guess, what he says -- are weak compared to his," Roque said.
"I do not know what he has to say but... we will listen to what Al Vitangcol has to say to corroborate the statements of whistleblowers that have already communicated with me," he added.
Vitangcol is facing two counts of graft and one count of violation of the Government Procurement Law for alleged anomalous maintenance contract with Philippines Trans Rail Management and Services in 2012.
On March 15, Vitangcol expressed willingness to reveal the names of those who purportedly have a hand in the MRT-3 woes, in exchange for legislative immunity from suit.
Vitangcol's statement came after Roque earlier said the former could be referred to the National Bureau of Investigation to get his statement with regard to the alleged irregularities in the MRT-3 management.
Early this month, Roque revealed that he furnished a "first batch" of documentary evidence from at least two individuals, who were directly involved in the corruption in MRT-3.
Quoting his whistleblowers, Roque revealed a certain "Pangasinan Group" and a "political machinery" pocketed two-thirds of the payment that should have been given to MRT-3's former maintenance provider, Filipino-Korean consortium Busan Universial Rail Inc.
Roque's whistleblowers also claimed that only one-third went to the actual maintenance of the rail transit system. (SunStar Philippines)