Palace lifts LTFRB chief's suspension

(UPDATE) MALACAÑANG on Sunday lifted the suspension order on Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Teofilo Guadiz 3rd.

The Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) said in a statement the lifting of the suspension came after former LTFRB aide Jefferson Tumbado, who earlier accused Guadiz and Department of Transportation (DoTr) chief Jaime Bautista of corruption, recanted his allegations.

«As such, there stands no reason to place Chairperson Guadiz under preventive suspension unless a supervening event maintaining the same accusations against him is put forth before the OP (Office of the President),» the OES said.

Last October 9, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. slapped a 90-day suspension on Guadiz following Tumbado's accusations that he witnessed widespread bribery in the LTFRB, which allegedly reached up to P5 million, in expediting the approval of special permits, franchises, and modification of routes.

The money trail also supposedly reached as far up as the OP and the DoTr — claims Bautista has repeatedly denied.

Guadiz is expected to report back to duty at the LTFRB today, November 6.