PNR chair vouches for DOTr chief Bautista amid corruption allegations

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and Philippine National Railways chairman Michael Macapagal

MANILA, Philippines — The chairman of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) vouched for Department of Transportation (DOTr) secretary Jaime Bautista amid the allegations of corruption of the latter.

“Secretary Bautista is in total sympathy with the bus and jeepney operators. He finds it unconscionable that anybody should be made to pay any amount in excess of what the government prescribes for a franchise,” PNR chairman Michael Macapagal said to the media.

According to Macapagal, those who are accusing Bautista were only maligning his name and are interested in his position.

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

Bautista was linked to the alleged corruption within the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board under its chairman Teofilo Guadiz, who was suspended on Monday.

Bautista denied the accusations in a radio interview on Wednesday and said that the DOTr has written to the National Bureau of Investigation to launch an independent probe.

Meanwhile, Macapagal added that PNR train routes in Manila will stop operations on January 15, 2024, to give way to the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway Project.

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