Suspended LTFRB chief back to post

The transport groups which he said was the source of his allegation that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board was into graft and corruption are also the one who broke the news that suspended LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III is back to his post effective Monday, 6 November.

Those transport groups that Jeffrey Tumbado, former executive assistant of Guadiz, claimed in a press conference in October that the approval of franchises, routes, and special permits was being sold in the LTFRB, and that the corruption could reach Malacañang were the same who posted on social media a Department of Transportation "special order" late Saturday and early morning Sunday.

"In the exigency and best interest of service, Assistant Secretary Teofilo Guadiz III is hereby reinstated as chairperson of the LTFRB, effective 6 November 2023," the special order signed by Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista read.

Bautista also confirmed the existence of the order on Saturday.

This means that Guadiz's reinstatement will take effect on Monday and will return as the head of the LTFRB, less than a month after he was suspended by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The corruption allegations that Tumbado hurled against his former boss who denied the allegations, ended in the accuser's recantation, saying that those were "borne out of impulse, irrational thinking, poor decision making, and misjudgment."

An investigation against Guadiz was launched after the allegations came to light, prompting President Marcos Jr. to order his suspension.

Tumbado withdrew his corruption allegations shortly after making them but claimed he was pressured, even threatened, into recanting and said he stood by his earlier statements.

On 23 October, the House Committee on Transportation, during a probe into the LTFRB corruption scandal, cited Tumbado in contempt for flip-flopping on his testimonies and for failure to prove his allegations against Guadiz and the agency.

Tumbado, likewise, admitted that his claims were baseless and were made out of resentment toward Guadiz.

The House panel cited Tumbado for contempt and ordered his detention for up to 10 days for flip-flopping answers and failing to prove claims of corruption against Guadiz and the LTFRB.

Tumbado, however, on Sunday told Daily Tribune that the National Bureau of Investigation is still investigating his claims and Guadiz's reinstatement is only due to politics as the LTFRB chair "is also an Ilocano."

"He's (Guadiz) Dagupan.," Tumbado said of Guadiz.

"Ituloy ng NBI," he added referring to the investigation of his corruption claims at the Guadiz-led- LTFRB.

Tumbado believed that his recantation also gave Guadiz his second chance to be reinstated.

"Pero siyempre nasa akin pa ang ebidensiya," he stressed.

In his expose, Tumbado referred to "ruta for sale" scheme wherein public utility vehicle operators would pay transport officials up to P5 million to get routes, franchises, and special permits, among other things.