Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 10) — Sen. Grace Poe on Tuesday called on the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to suspend the implementation of the government’s plan to modernize public utility vehicles, which has been marred with corruption allegations.
“Hindi na nga makausad nang maayos ang PUVMP (PUV Modernization Program) dahil sa iba’t ibang isyu, nabahiran pa ng korapsyon,” said Poe, the chairperson of the Senate committee on public services.
“Kung totoo ang alegasyon, hindi ito makatarungan sa ating mga drayber na nawalan ng kabuhayan dahil pinaboran pala ang mga naglalagay,” she added.
[Translation: The PUVMP has not decently progressed because of various issues, and now it is tainted with corruption. If the allegation is true, this is unjust to our drivers who lost their livelihood because others were favored due to bribes.]
On Monday, Jeffrey Tumbado, who was an executive assistant to LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III, bared the “ruta for sale” scheme, wherein operators have to pay transport officials up to ₱5 million to get routes, franchises, and special permits, among others.
Tumbado claimed Guadiz receives instructions from “higher-ups” in the Department of Transportation and Malacañang regarding the bribery. The LTFRB chairperson has denied the allegations.
On the same day, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the suspension of Guadiz, as well as an investigation into the allegations.
The DOTr also said it issued a notice to explain after Guadiz was accused of misconduct regarding the PUV Modernization Program, along with other irregularities bared within the LTFRB.
“Erring officials must be held accountable for bungling a very critical program of the transport sector,” Poe said.
She is hoping that amid ongoing probes into the corruption claims, the PUV Modernization Program will be fixed, reiterating that the modernization plan must be “progressive, just, and humane.”
Tumbado said he is set to file graft complaints along with transport group Manibela against officials involved in the alleged bribery scheme.
