Editorial
The Daily Tribune
The Daily Tribune
The circumstances that led to the bribery allegations against Noy’s sister Ballsy and brother-in-law Eldon Cruz have taken a new interesting twist with another Aquino, businessman Jorge Aquino-Lichauco, being named among those pushing for the MRT-3 supply contract to be awarded to Czech coach manufacturer Inekon Group.
Had Czech Ambassador Josef Rychtar not spilled the beans on the $30 million (P1.25 billion) extortion attempt after Inekon lost the contract, nothing would have been known about the Aquino group’s lobby for Inekon.
The Czech firm obviously tapped Rychtar who seems to have established connections with the Aquino family through his counterpart Philippine Ambassador to the Czech Republic Evelyn Austria-Garcia, who is very close to the Aquinos.
It seems somewhere Rychtar got an assurance that Inekon will win the supply contract and got Inekon advancing part of the commissions.
For Inekon to clinch the contract, however, the terms of reference (ToR) in the auction would have to favor the Czech firm, the drafting of which was done by Aquino-Lichaucho.
Yorgos Psinakis, a nephew of Steve Psinakis who is closely associated with both the Lopezes and the Aquinos, became the representative of Inekon in communicating with the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) which at the time of the MRT-3 auction was headed by Noy’s alter-ego Mar Roxas.
Somehow, the ToR prepared by Aquino-Lichauco came too late for the DoTC to amend its rules for the bidding which was already published in the newspapers.
Somehow, the ToR prepared by Aquino-Lichauco came too late for the DoTC to amend its rules for the bidding which was already published in the newspapers.
Having advanced money to their supposed backers and lobbyists, Inekon could no longer reduce its bid price to comply with the terms of the contract to compete with the other bidders, a Tribune source said about Inekon’s eventual loss of the contract.
The source said had the terms of reference been supplied as soon as the auction was ready, Inekon would have surely bagged the contract since the ToR drafted by Aquino-Lichauco was tailor-fit for the Czech firm.
Obviously, money already had changed hands over this deal that went sour at the last minute which is why the Czechs are fuming, the source added.
It appears Rychtar bore the brunt of the Czech firm’s chagrin, the reason for blowing the lid off the extortion attempt. The moment Rychtar tried to get back at the DoTC, the names of Noy’s sister Ballsy and her spouse Eldon cropped up, whether from Rychtar or another source is hard to know.
Still Rychtar appears to have put himself in a difficult situation for maintaining the bribery allegations while trying to clear the names of the Aquinos from it.
The desperate bid of Rychtar had him naming low-level officials and hinting even at Mar Roxas having been involved in the extortion try which, based on his claim, Inekon rejected and which resulted in the disqualification of the Czech firm.
Rychtar’s version of the story is shot with so many holes such as what would induce him to go after the DoTC officials on behalf of Inekon if the payoff did not materialize.
The obvious fix that Rychtar has found himself in with his allegation is the need to insulate the Aquinos from the anomaly while maintaining that it did happen.
Up to now, no serious attempt seems to have been made to look into Rychtar’s allegations that, coming from a diplomat, should have been the focus of government attention.
Rychtar may just all of a sudden vacate his post since the administration of Noynoy would have surely petitioned the Czech Republic for Rychtar’s replacement.
An investigation should start now while the whistle-blower is still in the country, who said that he is willing to tell all in a proper forum.
The probe should also include all members of Kamag-Anak Inc. named to have lobbied for Inekon.
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