Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 13) — Transportation group Manibela believes someone was behind the recantation of a former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) official who earlier accused the agency of corruption.
“Hindi naman namin pinaniniwalaan ‘yung recantation n’ya,” Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena told CNN Philippines’ The Source on Friday.
“Naniniwala kami na may kumilos dito kasi nung medyo nadadawit na si (Transportation) Secretary (Jaime) Bautista, medyo doon na nagkaroon ng recantation samantalang nung kay (former LTFRB) Chairman (Teofilo) Guadiz sinibak siya kaagad eh,” he also said.
[Translation: We do not believe his recantation. We believe someone was behind this because when Secretary Bautista was being linked, that was when the recantation happened while Chairman Guadiz was immediately removed from office.]
Prior to recanting on Oct. 11, former LTFRB senior executive assistant Jeffrey Tumbado alleged at a press conference on Oct. 9 that regulators were practicing a “ruta for sale” scheme.
It requires operators to pay transport officials up to P5 million to secure routes, franchises, and special permits, among others.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suspended Guadiz following Tumbado’s allegations.
Tumbado said in his affidavit that his allegations “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.”
Valbuena said he did not expect Tumbado to recant his statements. He added that the former LTFRB official seemed determined to file the complaints based on their conversations.
According to Valbuena, Tumbado started reaching out to him in July then started telling the group about the alleged corrupt practices in the agency in August.
Tumbado originally planned to file corruption complaints against involved government officials before the Ombudsman on Sept. 25, but Manibela asked to delay it because the group was not yet ready, Valbuena said. The filing was moved to morning of Oct. 9 before the press conference, but the former LTFRB official said to hold it first, he added.
Manibela has a copy of the pieces of evidence from Tumbado, which include screenshots of Guadiz’s messages, Valbuena said.
“In due time na magkakaroon ng hearing sa Senado at Congress, siyempre hindi po pupwedeng hindi natin ilabas itong mga hawak natin,” he said.
[Translation: In due time once there will be a Senate and Congress hearing, we should reveal these pieces of evidence we have.]
