House panel cites LTFRB whistle-blower in contempt

MANILA, Philippines — The House committee on transportation yesterday cited in contempt Jefferson Tumbado for giving flip-flopping statements on his allegations of corruption at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and had him detained for 10 days.

Tumbado, a former LTFRB head executive assistant, earned the ire of lawmakers for lying in his testimonies during the motu proprio inquiry of the committee chaired by Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop.

“Mr. Tumbado, you are making a fool of us. You made a statement then amend it on the next question… you are making a circus out of this. I will not allow that,” Acop said partly in Filipino, adding that this tactic is “showing disrespect” to the committee.

Other congressmen accused Tumbado of withholding information about the alleged anomalous transactions related to the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) at the LTFRB.

When Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting asked him to present evidence on his claim that corruption is prevalent in the agency, Tumbado said he had “no direct knowledge” if suspended LTFRB chief Teofilo Guadiz III has any involvement in it.

He added that he only dragged Guadiz into the issue of corruption because he “felt bad” when the latter did not listen to his complaints at a time he had a rift with a co-worker.

“None, your honor. That was just my opinion,” Tumbado told Tambunting who asked him if he has evidence to pin Guadiz down.

“You gave your opinion without any proof? You wasted our time. We went here despite our break and now you’re telling us, it was just your opinion?” said the visibly irked Acop, a lawyer and retired police general.

Upon repeated questioning, Tumbado – who recanted his earlier pronouncements that the corruption in LTFRB goes all the way to the Palace – claimed he only based his statements on complaints received from transport groups and disgruntled LTFRB personnel.

He also told the committee that he took offense when Guadiz reassigned him to another department – a statement that angered Tambunting even more: “Simply because you were reshuffled, you suddenly accused him (Guadiz) of corruption?”

The former LTFRB employee answered in the affirmative.

Guadiz, who also attended the hearing, told Bulacan Rep. Salvador Pleyto Sr. that no single officer has the power to approve franchises.

“We need the LGU (local government unit), the DOTr (Department of Transportation) and we need also other government agencies. It’s not the LTFRB alone,” Guadiz noted. ?

“Moreover, I want to emphasize that in my time as chairman, there were no new routes that were approved, except the PNR route that was abandoned, belying claims that there were routes that were for sale,” he said.

After the hearing, Guadiz felt relieved that his name has been cleared.

“I am thankful because my name, which I have been protecting for 23 years, has finally been cleared. I thank our God and the members of the House for looking into this,” he said in an interview.

Guadiz added his lawyer is studying the possibility of filing charges against Tumbado. — Delon Porcalla