Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 12) — Senators on Thursday said an investigation must be done on the recantation of a former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) official on his claims of corruption in the agency.
In an affidavit shared with the media on Wednesday, Jeffrey Tumbado, former executive assistant of now-suspended LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III, said the claims were \”all unintentional and misguided.\”
READ: LTFRB whistleblower recants corruption allegations; apologizes to Guadiz, Bautista
Tumbado said operators have to pay transport officials up to ₱5 million in exchange for franchises, special permits, and modification of routes.
\”Kaduda-duda na nag-retract,\” said Sen. Grace Poe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services. \”Ano ang tunay na dahilan na binawi ito? Dapat imbestigahan bakit niya binawi ang kanyang salaysay.\”
[Translation: His retraction is doubtful. What’s the real reason behind his recantation? It should be investigated.]
In her message to reporters, Poe said the whistleblower must face legal complaints if his recantation was without basis and it must also looked at if someone pushed him to withdraw his claims.
Tumbado disclosed the supposed anomaly in a news conference on Monday that led to the same-day suspension of Guadiz. The LTFRB chief was supposedly at the center of the bribery scheme and received orders from “higher-ups” in the Department of Transportation and Malacañang.
\”We are not taking it for granted but we won’t tolerate false testimonies,\” Poe said.
Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel also called for a Senate probe on the matter.
\”Pag walang mag-take charge [If no authority would take charge] then Senate should come in because of the public interest issue,\” he said, adding he is open to filing a resolution seeking the chamber’s investigation.
Justice Secretary Boying Remulla said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will look into the corruption issue within the LTFRB.
“May anti-graft desk sa NBI,” Remulla told a briefing Thursday afternoon. “Usually ‘yan motu proprio. Pinupuntahan ‘yan ng agents sa NBI, but we will remind them.”
[Translation: There is an anti-graft desk in NBI. Usually, it would be a motu proprio (this means to act without a formal request). Agents will go to the NBI for those, but we will remind them.]
Remulla added the NBI will interview Tumbado.
In an earlier radio interview, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said he requested the NBI to conduct its own probe on the alleged corruption within the LTFRB.
On Monday, Bautista said his agency has begun an investigation into the anomalies within the LTFRB under Guadiz’s leadership.
