Major transport groups on Friday staged a support rally for suspended Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chief Teofilo Guadiz III in front of the agency’s central office in Quezon City.
The so-called Magnificent 7, which makes up 95 percent of the country’s transport sector, appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to consider the reinstatement of Guadiz, saying they could attest to his credibility and competence.
The group is composed of Pasang Masda, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytors Nationwide, Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization, Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Stop and Go, and Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators ng Pilipinas.
Its spokesperson Roberto Martin said they have already tested the services of the agency for the longest time, and fully believe in him as well as to fully support him.
“The chairman did not have shortcomings to create projects, programs and measures for the welfare of the operators and drivers,” he added.
He said they are “humbly asking the Chief Executive to reinstate Guadiz for the continuity of the agency’s projects and programs.
The Magnificent 7 warned the public not to believe in the accusations against Guadiz “as they came from someone with questionable credibility.”
The group was referring to ex-LTFRB employee Jeffrey Tumbado, who earlier accused Guadiz, and officials of the Department of Transportation and Malacanang of corruption but later recanted his claim.
“The Stop & Go Transport Coalition can attest to the integrity, dedication and sincerity of Chairman Guadiz in attending to all issues and concerns of different transport groups in particular and the public in general,” it added.