Senators eye probe on LTFRB corruption, recantation

MANILA, Philippines — Senators are considering seeking an investigation into the alleged bribery hounding the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the subsequent recantation of the whistleblower.

“My office will monitor. If no one seriously pursues this issue, then I will file a resolution for the Senate to investigate this,” Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said in a statement.

Pimentel said he would defer to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which has been tasked to look into the allegation that suspended LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III and other ranking officials received P5 million as payoff for every approval of a franchise or special permit.

“But if no one will take charge, then the Senate should come in because of the public interest issue,” Pimentel said.

For Sen. Grace Poe, the “suspicious” recantation of the whistle-blower, Guadiz’s former head executive assistant Jeff Tumbado, also needed to be investigated.

“We are not taking it for granted. We won’t tolerate false testimonies,” said Poe, who chairs the Senate public services committee.

“The whistleblower should be charged if he made a baseless accusation, or see if someone forced him to recant his allegations. There should be an investigation. Where there is smoke, there is fire,” she added.