MRT maintenance contractor sues Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—A former maintenance contractor of the Metro Rail Transit has filed a P30-million libel suit against Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc, editor in chief of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and Czech Ambassador Josef Rychtar.

The complaint was filed by Roehl Bacar, CEO of Commbuilders and Technology (CB&T), on Tuesday in the Mandaluyong Prosecutor’s Office.

Bacar took offense at an Inquirer report that was published on Saturday.

The report quoted Rychtar as saying in his affidavit that the transfer of maintenance operations from one contractor to CB&T was “backed by the highest DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications) officials and some politicians.”

“Ako raw po ay may kakilalang mga matataas na [opisyal] sa gobyerno na nagdudulot po ng medyo malicious na intention na ako po ay nakakakuha ng proyekto dahil sa impluwensya sa gobyerno,” Bacar was quoted as saying over dzMM.

Bacar is a councilor of Mandaluyong City.