DISMISSED Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) official Jeffrey Tumbado has been cited for contempt for accusing suspended LTFRB chair Teofilo Guadiz III for corruption without basis.
The House Committee on Appropriations ordered his detention for a maximum of 10 days for his flip-flopping answers and failing to substantiate his claims of corruption against Guadiz and the LTFRB.
Tumbado stood by his recantation that Guadiz, his former boss, is not linked to bribery, adding his only basis for saying there is corruption in the agency are the complaints of public utility vehicle operators.
“Base sa nilalapit at sinusumbong ng operators na para mapabilis ang kanilang pagproseso ng papel ay hindi na sila makatiis o makapag-antay, naglalagay, nagbibigay po sila. Pero wala po akong direktang kaalaman na sangkot si Chairman Guadiz dito sa korapsyon na ito,” he said.
He also confirmed that he accused transport officials of receiving bribes for franchises, special permits, and changes in routes during a press conference last Oct. 11 solely due to ill feelings against Guadiz.
Sagip Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta then asked Tumbado if he has direct evidence to back his claims that there is widespread corruption in the LTFRB.
“Wala, your honor, opinyon ko lang po ‘yun,” Tumbado said.
An irked Marcoleta highlighted Tumbado’s flip-flopping statements that he recanted because he fears for his life, but he is now saying that there are no threats against him, according to reports published on CNN.
He said Tumbado wasted the time of lawmakers, prompting the panel to cite the resource person in contempt.
metrosundaily
