Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9) — A former executive assistant at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is eyeing to file corruption complaints against agency officials as he alleged on Monday that regulators were practicing a “ruta for sale” scheme.
In a news conference on Monday, Jeffrey Tumbado, who was an executive assistant to LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III, said operators have to pay transport officials up to ₱5 million to get routes, franchise, and special permits, among others.
“Kapag ikaw ay operator, gusto mong makuha itong daan na ito lalo na sa probinsya, magre-request ka tapos kung gusto mong mapasaiyo iyan kahit hindi pwede, hanapin mo ko tapos ayun na,” he said.
[Translation: If you’re an operator who wants to get a route, especially in the provinces, you need to request and if you want it to be yours even if it’s not allowed, you just need to find me then it will be settled.]
Transport group Manibela will be Tumbado’s co-complainant.
Aside from his testimony, Tumbado said he has pieces of evidence in hand including screenshots of text messages and audio recordings of conversations related to the alleged corrupt practice.
He claimed that aside from Guadiz, there were other top officials from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Malacañang ordering to collect the money.
“I don’t believe pang-sarili niya ‘yun eh, I mean may instructions din from higher-ups,” he said.
[Translation: I don’t believe it’s not for personal gain, I mean there were also instructions from higher-ups.]
The former LTFRB official said he was a “middleman” for the scheme. He added that even LTFRB’s regional officials have a quota of ₱2 million to be given to the central office.
Tumbado served as an executive assistant in February but said he resigned in September after being demoted and transferred to an office for the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program.
In a LTFRB news conference, Guadiz denied the allegation and said: “Pero kung meron po haharapin po natin, malinis po ang ating kalooban [But if there will be a complaint, we will face it, our conscience is clear].”
In a press release, the DOTr asked Guadiz to explain the allegations of corruption, along with other irregularities bared within the agency.
It added that the LTFRB chairperson was also issued a notice to explain after Guadiz was accused of misconduct regarding the PUV Modernization Program.
“We already launched an investigation on the allegations against the LTFRB,” Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said. “While we are already evaluating the alleged irregularities involving [Chairman Guadiz], we also issued a notice to explain against Guadiz for him to shed light on the allegations.”
