Marcos suspends LTFRB chief Guadiz

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has ordered the suspension of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Teofilo Guadiz III amid reports of alleged corruption under his leadership.

"The President does not tolerate any misconduct in his administration and has instructed the immediate investigation of this matter," the Presidential Communications Office said in a statement.

"He strongly condemns dishonesty and duplicity in public service," it added. 

In a separate statement, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista said an investigation on the allegations has been launched.  Guadiz was also asked to explain after he was accused of misconduct involving the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

"We already launched an investigation on the allegations against the LTFRB.  While we are already evaluating the alleged irregularities involving [chairman Guadiz], we also issued a notice to explain against Guadiz for him to shed light on the allegations," Bautista said.

"We do not tolerate any form of corruption in the DOTr and will not hesitate to impose the stiffest sanction if the evidence so warrants," he added.

In a separate news conference called by the LTFRB, Guadiz said of the possible graft case being poised by some transport groups, "Wala pa po akong nalalaman na ganyan. Pero kung meron man po haharapin naman po natin, malinis po ang ating kalooban."

P5-million grease money?

In a "24 Oras" report by Maki Pulido, a former executive assistant of Guadiz bared that bribe money from operators can go as high as P5 million to secure a route, franchise, special permits or board resolutions. 

Jeff Tumbado said operators are asked to pay a 50 percent downpayment, with the balance to be given when the request is granted.

"Syempre, head executive assistant ako, syempre lahat ng bagay napag-uusapan, one-on-one, sa loob ng office n'ya," Tumbado said.

"I believe victim din itong si chairman dahil may instruction daw from higher ups, alam mo, 'yung SOP," he added.

"Pagbigay ko sa kanya, may mga nagde-deliver. IIpunin 'yun, to Malacanang ang last, cold cash," Tumbado also said.

He said the officials involved will be identified in the case he would file for graft and violation of ease of doing business before the Ombudsman.

Tumbado said that aside from the bribery at the LTFRB central office, regional directors are also given quotas to produce P2 million a month.

He said he personally witnessed the conversations and had text screenshots and audio recordings to prove his claims, adding that he decided to come out to stop the anomaly which is victimizing even poor operators.

"Kung ako lang loko-loko, mayaman na 'ko, di na ako haharap sa inyo," he said.

Transport group Manibela will join Tumbado in filing the graft case.

The group said it is also planning a transport strike on October 16 to condemn the alleged anomalies in the LTFRB.—With Ted Cordero/LDF, GMA Integrated News