LTFRB ‘whistleblower’ withdraws recantation that cleared Guadiz

Suspended Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Teofilo Guadiz lll during a press briefing on Wednesday, September 13, at LTFRB central office in Quezon City. (File photo from Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — Supposed “whistleblower” Jeffrey Tumbado on Friday reaffirmed his previously recanted corruption allegations against suspended Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chair Teofilo Guadiz.

“Kung ano man ang naging pahayag ko sa presscon sa UP Hotel noon, ay totoo at patuloy na titindigan ko na maraming sangkot na personalidad at opisyal sa mga katiwalian sa LTFRB, dahil ako mismo ang saksi,” said former LTFRB executive assistant Jeffrey Tumbado in a new statement.

(Whatever I said at the press conference at the UP Hotel then, it is true, and I will continue to maintain that there are many personalities and officials involved in corruption in LTFRB, because I myself am the witness.)

Tumbado was referring to a press conference he appeared in on October 9, where he had exposed corruption within LTFRB involving route modifications, prioritization of franchise papers, and special permits.

According to Tumbado, each illegal transaction costs P5 million, and the deal was paid in two installments.

In his exposé, Tumbado claimed he and Guadiz first started having discussions on how they could “benefit” from the “lagayan (bribe) scheme” as early as March.

He then recanted these allegations just a few days later.

Just recently, on Thursday, October 18, in a sworn statement before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), he had stood by his withdrawal of allegations against Guadiz.

“Gaya ng aking unang ipinahayag sa presscon [on October 9], wala pong nanghihingi ng pera, kundi may naglalagay na mga stakeholders para mapabilis ang usad o proseso ng kanilang papel,” said Tumbado in recent statement.

(As I first stated in the press conference [on October 19], no one asks for money, but some stakeholders engage in bribery to speed up the progress or processing of their paper.)

“Kung walang maglalagay, walang negosasyon kung magkano ang pagkakasunduan,” he added.

(If no one gets involved in bribes, there will be no negotiation on how much is agreed upon.)

Tumbado bared he recanted his allegations after he was pressured by different people, including his own family and supporters of Guadiz.

He also reiterated Guadiz himself contacted him days after he revealed the corrupt practices within the LTFRB.

He claimed the LTFRB chair begged him to restore his reputation and career.

Furthermore, Tumbado said he also feared for his family’s safety.

“Marami ang nagsasabi na mali ang ginawa kong paglantad para i-expose ang mga katiwalian sa ahensya, pero sino ang maglalakas loob na magsumbong sa taong bayan?” asked Tumbado.

(Many people say that the revelation I made to expose the corruption in the agency was wrong, but who else will dare to expose it to the people?)

He then resolved that he would face Congress in an investigation.

“Humihingi ako ng inyong lubos na pang unawa sa aking kinakaharap na sitwasyon at paumanhin na rin kung minsan ay nagdudulot sa inyo ng kalituhan ang aking ibinabahaging pahayag,” Tumbado pleaded.

(I ask for your full understanding of the situation I am facing, and I also apologize if, sometimes, my statements bring you confusion.)

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