Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 14) — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has confirmed serving a subpoena to the former aide at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) who alleged corruption within the agency, only to later retract his statements, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Saturday.
DOJ Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Mico Clavano said Jeffrey Tumbado has already received the order for him to appear before the NBI on Monday morning, Oct. 16.
Tumbado was asked “to present evidence to support the allegation of corruption in the LTFRB,” and may be penalized if he fails to appear before the bureau, Clavano added.
On Friday, the DOJ said that while the subpoena was already issued, it could not be served due to the incorrect address on Tumbado’s affidavit.
The former executive assistant of suspended LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III recanted his allegations of corruption on Wednesday, saying in an affidavit that they were “all unintentional and misguided.”
Tumbado earlier claimed that operators have to pay transport officials up to ₱5 million in exchange for franchises, additional routes, and special permits.
He also said Guadiz received instructions from higher officials in the Department of Transportation and Malacañang regarding the bribery.
Such allegations led to the suspension of Guadiz.
“All of the things said were borne out of impulse, irrational thinking, misjudgment, poor decision making and were encouraged by some individuals to make the statement which may have added to my confusion and affected my better judgment,” Tumbado said on Wednesday, as he apologized to Guadiz.
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