SUSPENDED Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chief Teofilo Guadiz III on Monday maintained his innocence on the allegations that he accepted bribe money in exchange for franchise approval.
Interviewed over Unang Balita at GMA-7, Guadiz said this was the first time that he was accused of corruption in his 23 years in public service.
He said he is ready to face any probe.
“There is no truth to what he had exposed,” he stressed, referring to former LTFRB employee Jeff Tumbado, who claimed that several officials of the Department of Transportation and Malacanang received huge sums of grease money from the LTFRB for the approval of franchises, new routes, special permits, and other documents.
Tumbado also implicated two lawmakers from Congress. “I am willing to face anybody in any investigations to deny all allegations,” Guadiz said.
He disclosed he and Tumbado met before the recantation, saying Tumbado even asked for his forgiveness. He said he has already forgiven Tumbado, adding he has no plan to file any case against him.
The controversy started when he transferred Tumbado to another division because of a conflict with some employees.
Tumbado failed to show up at the National Bureau of Investigation to shed light on the supposed corruption within the agency.
The NBI-Anti Graft Division said Tumbado’s “would-be” legal counsel was not able to arrive to represent him, too.
Tumbado’s lawyer reportedly begged off from attending, because Tumbado was “uncooperative.”
Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla earlier instructed the NBI to summon Tumbado.
In a statement, Tumbado said he remains committed to helping the NBI on its investigation, adding that he is looking for another legal counsel.