The Department of Justice has required former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) executive Jefferson Tumbado to appear before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday to shed light on the corruption allegations at the agency.
This developed as the transport group Malayang Alyansa ng Bus Employees at Laborers (Manibela), which supported Tumbado’s allegations of bribery against his erstwhile boss, suspended LTFRB chief Teofilo Guadiz III, vowed to push through with their Oct. 16 strike.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Friday geared up for the planned nationwide strike, holding an emergency meeting to discuss a contingency plan.
This includes establishing a multi-agency command center at the Communications and Command Center to monitor the strike, MMDA General Manager Undersecretary Procopio Lipana said.
Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. also urged the House of Representatives to probe the allegations of corruption in the LTFRB, which is mandated to regulate land-based public transportation and safeguard the welfare and interests of Filipino commuting commuters.
Justice Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano said the NBI had already issued a subpoena to Tumbado, but the subpoena “could not have been served due to the incorrect address on Mr. Tumbado’s affidavit.”
Tumbado had recanted his allegations against Guadiz, the LTFRB and the Department of Transportation, after initially saying bribes of as much as P5 million were being paid and were going up all the way to Malacanang.
According to Clavano, the NBI had obtained a certification that the address contained in Tumbado’s affidavit “does not exist.”
Because of this, the “NBI is in the process of serving another subpoena to the right address,” he said.
“This will delay the process a little bit as he (Tumbado) was supposed to appear on Monday if he had put the right address,” Clavano added.
Nonetheless, the DOJ official said Tumbado “can reach out to the NBI if he is willing to still appear on Monday.”
Last Monday, Tumbado appeared at a press conference of transport group Manibela and accused Guadiz, for whom he worked as an executive assistant, has been accepting bribes in exchange for the quick approval of permits.
Due to the allegations of corruption, President Marcos suspended Guadiz from his post.
But last Wednesday, Tumbado issued an affidavit which recanted his allegations.
“After a careful reflection and deliberation, it is my honest desire to reiterate whatever allegations may have been said during the press conference on October 9, 2023, where the public declaration was made were all unintentional and misguided,” he said.