LTFRB officer sued for swindling

MANILA, Philippines — An officer of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) was sued for estafa on Wednesday after she allegedly duped a man of P300,000 in cash in exchange for a taxi franchise.

Rogelio Colita filed the complaint against Jean Gunda, a transportation development officer who is now assigned at the LTFRB Region 9 office in Pagadian City, before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office.

In his sworn statement, Colita claimed Gunda – then assigned at the LTFRB’s National Capital Region office – offered him a franchise for taxi for P175,000 on April 9, 2016.

Colita went to Gunda at her office three days later and gave the money and documents needed to obtain a certificate of public convenience. Despite repeated follow-ups, he never received his CPC.

LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada said there have received reports of Gunda’s alleged illegal activities but Colita is the first one who filed a complaint.

She an applicant for a CPC is only charged P520 for processing and legal research fees.