Ex-LTFRB aide Tumbado submits sworn statement to NBI

Jeff Tumbado, former executive assistant of suspended Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Teofilo Guadiz III, on Thursday submitted his sworn statement on the alleged corruption in the agency to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

“Kami po ngayon ay nag-submit ng sinumpaang salaysay na naayon po sa imbestigasyon na ginagawa ng NBI. At ‘yun lang po ang nangyari,” Atty. Bernardo Masangkay Jr., Tumbado's lawyer, said in an ambush interview.

(Today, we submitted a sworn statement in accordance with the investigation of the NBI. And this is the only thing that happened.)

“At merong kaunting katanungan, clarificatory question ang NBI, at nasagot naman lahat ng witness ‘yung mga tinatanong ng NBI,” he added.

(There were some questions, clarificatory questions from the NBI and the witness was able to answer these.)

Tumbado was initially set to appear before the NBI on Monday. He was not able to attend, saying he was still taking care of something

He was issued a subpoena by the investigating agency following his allegations that Guadiz delivered corruption money to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.

Tumbado later recanted his statements against Guadiz and Bautista and apologized to them, saying the allegations were “borne out of impulse, irrational thinking, misjudgment, [and] poor decision making.”

In the sworn statement, Tumbado said he recanted his allegations because Guadiz called him and begged him to clear his name and reputation.

“Sa aming pag-uusap na hindi naiwasang mauwi sa iyakan, sa bandang huli ay nagkapatawaran at nangako ako sa kanya na gagawin ko ang aking makakaya para maibalik ang nabahirang integridad at pangalan ni Chairman Guadiz,” he said.

(We couldn’t avoid crying, and in the end, we forgave each other and I promised him that I would do everything I can to clear the blemished integrity and name of Chairman Guadiz.)

Tumbado said that though he believes that the LTFRB is not safe from corruption, he only received reports of such instances and was not directly involved and could not confirm such corruption.

He reiterated that based on his knowledge, the irregularities did not reach the Department of Transportation and Malacañang.

“Humihingi rin po ako ng pang-unawa ng mga kinauukulan at ng publiko. Pagod na rin po ako at nababahala po ako sa aking kaligtasan at ng aking pamilya,” he said in his statement.

(I also apologize to the officials and the public. I am also tired and worried for the safety of my family.)

“Ito po ang buong katotohanan at sumusumpa ako na ito ang tanging katotohanan sa mga pangyayari,” he added.

(This is the whole truth and I swear that this is the only truth.)

During the interview, Masangkay said that applicants bribe LTFRB employees for the speedy process of their franchise.

“For example, when merong mga franchise na ina-applyan. Minsan hindi nabibigyan agad ng priority kaya itong mga aplikante, sila mismo ang nag, allegedly, nagsusuhol sa mga tauhan ng LTFRB,” he said.

(For example, when applicants apply for franchise, they bribe LTFRB employees to speed up process.)

He said Tumbado will attend the House hearing on the allegations on Monday.—AOL, GMA Integrated News