Ex-PNR chief gets 24 years for graft

MANILA, Philippines — The former general manager of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) has been sentenced to up to 24 years in prison over the anomalous awarding of multimillion-peso contracts to two suppliers in 2009.

In a 22-page decision promulgated on Jan. 22, the Sandiganbayan found Manuel Andal guilty of two counts of violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Andal was sentenced to up to 12 years in prison for each count.

He was ordered to indemnify the government P86.505 million and perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

Filed by the ombudsman in 2018, one of the graft cases stemmed from Andal’s awarding of $6.77-million contract to Pandrol Korea Limited for the supply of 170,000 rail fastenings and 50,000 clips and insulators in February 2009 for the repair of PNR tracks in Quezon province and the Bicol Region.

The other complaint stemmed from Andal’s awarding of a contract amounting to P86.505 million to local firm Nikka Trading for the supply of 50,000 concrete sleepers and rail fastenings in August 2009.