LTFRB chief confident SC will junk other cases vs PUV modernization

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairperson Teofilo Guadiz II is confident that the remaining cases against the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) before the Supreme Court will be dismissed. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is confident that the remaining cases against the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) will be dismissed.

LTFRB chair Teofilo Guadiz III said the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) junking the petition of Bayyo Association Inc. that questioned the legality of the PUVMP affirms that the government initiative is in line with the law.

READ: Jeepney drivers, operators to appeal SC ruling that junked plea vs. PUVMP

During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing on Friday, Guadiz said: “Base ho sa nangyari ngayon na desisyon ng Supreme Court, kung ito ho ang aming pagbabasehan, ako ho ay tiwala na ganoon din po ang mangyayari – ito ay ibabasura at ito po ay ibaba sa mga trial courts or sa Court of Appeals para po litisin iyong mga issues na idinulog po ng mga naghain ng petition kontra dito sa PUVMP.”

(Based on what happened now with the Supreme Court decision, if this is our basis, I am confident that the same will happen – it will be dismissed and it will be brought down to the trial courts or the Court of Appeals to try the issues brought against the PUVMP by those who filed the petitions.)

Two more cases against the PUVMP are pending before the SC. The first one was filed by transport group Piston, which asked the SC for a temporary restraining order and a writ of preliminary injunction to stop enforcement of the PUVMP deadline.

The second case was filed by pro-PUVMP transport groups, which asked the SC to dismiss Piston’s plea.