LTFRB-6 director faces bribery, extortion raps
ILOILO CITY, Philippines — A transport group operating in this city has filed administrative and criminal charges against Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-Region 6 Director Romulo Bernardez.
The Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Owners and Drivers Association (ICLAJODA) filed cases of alleged graft and corruption, gross insubordination, bribery and extortion before Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and Ombudsman for Visayas Pelagio Apostol.
Reymundo Parcon and Rizalito Alido, ICLAJODA president and secretary, respectively, alleged that Bernardez violated the moratorium imposed by the LTFRB central office on the issuance of franchises to new taxi units and public utility jeepneys.
On top of filing administrative charges, the ICLAJODA leadership also asked Councilor Plaridel Nava, chair of the City Council’s transportation committee, to draft a resolution declaring Bernardez persona non grata.
Parcon said the plaints stemmed from a petition by Hibao-an jeepney operators to extend their routes to Savannah Subdivision in Pavia, Iloilo. He narrated that the operators paid P27,000 in processing fee for the extension of route. But after nine months, the LTFRB-6 leadership allegedly sit on their petition.
A certain Ramon Rubino has executed an affidavit to attest the group’s allegations, claiming that Bernardez asked for P60,000 from a franchise applicant of tourist vans.
The plot thickened when Bernardez rebutted by saying that the accusations against him were just part of a demolition job schemed by Duron. “I am 100 percent sure that Atty. Duron is behind this,†he told The Freeman. (FREEMAN)
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