An insidious attempt to link Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista to alleged corruption at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, or LTFRB, was divulged by an official of the Department of Transportation, or DoTr.

Philippine National Railways chairperson Michael Ted Macapagal pointed to "certain individuals and groups" as part of a plot to link Bautista to the allegations.

"Some people are out for blood because of one thing and one thing alone — they are interested in his position," Macapagal said.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. suspended LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III on 10 October following allegations of corruption at the agency.

The Department of Justice, or DoJ, has issued a subpoena to former LTFRB executive assistant Jefferson Tumbado, the whistleblower who later recanted his allegations.

Justice Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Mico Clavano said in a message to reporters that Tumbado is being summoned to shed light on his earlier statements.

"He is set to appear at the NBI at 10 a.m. on 16 October.  He is required to be present. As stated in the subpoena, failure to appear may be penalized under law," Clavano said.

Tumbado said in a late message to Daily Tribune, however, he had received the subpoena on Friday but he will not be able to show up at the NBI.

Tumbado, on 9 October, in a briefing arranged by transport group MANIBELA accused Guadiz of accepting bribes in exchange for the immediate approval of public transportation routes, franchises and permits.

Macapagal told reporters that the DoTr secretary has nothing to do whatsoever with the LTFRB's day-to-day operations.

He said the LTFRB, despite being an attached agency of the DoTr, has its own mandate. Its officials, he pointed out, enjoy full autonomy.

"Secretary Bautista is in total sympathy with the bus and jeepney operators," Macapagal said. "He finds it unconscionable that anyone should be made to pay any amount over what the government prescribes for a franchise."

The PNR chief warned of outside forces whose main objective is to cast aspersions on the DoTr chief and cause his removal from office.

Macapagal said Bautista had introduced far-ranging reforms at the agency, which did not sit well with the syndicates operating within the system.

"To preclude any appearance of corruption even at the PNR, I recently told all my friends, relatives, even acquaintances not to transact business on my behalf," Macapagal said.

"Those interested in landing a contract with the agency should go through the normal process."

On 11 October, Tumbado issued an affidavit recanting his allegations.

"After careful reflection and deliberation, it is my honest desire to reiterate that whatever allegations may have been made during the press conference on 9 October were all unintentional and misguided," he said.