Koko wants Senate probe into LTFRB graft issues ‘if no one seriously pursues it’

A Senate investigation into the alleged corruption in the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is in order “if no one seriously pursues it,” Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said Thursday.

The minority chief made the remark after Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on Wednesday called on the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct an independent probe on the alleged corrupt practices in the transportation regulatory body.

“If NBI will investigate then [okay] na pala (we’re okay with it). 'Pag walang mag (if no one will) take charge then Senate should come in because of the public interest issue,” Pimentel said in a text message to reporters.

“If no one seriously pursues this issue then I will file a [resolution] for the Senate to investigate this,” he added.

Meanwhile, Senate public services committee chairperson Grace Poe said the sudden retraction of Jeff Tumbado should also be investigated.

“Kaduda-duda na nag-retract. Ano ba ang tunay na dahilan na binawi ito[?] Dapat imbestigahan bakit niya binawi ang kanyang salaysay,” Poe said in a separate text message.

“Kasuhan siya kung walang basehan at tingnan kung may nag-udyok sa kanya na bawiin ang kanyang mga nasabing alegasyon. Sabi nga, kung may usok, malamang may nasusunog,” she added.

(It’s dubious why the supposed whistleblower retracted his statements. What is the real reason why he recanted it? This turn of events should be investigated. He should be charged if his allegations are baseless but we should also look into the possibility that someone convinced him to retract his allegations. As they say, if there’s smoke, there’s fire.)

While Poe said they do not tolerate false testimonies, a proper audit should be done in the LTFRB.

She also hoped that more “legitimate whistleblowers” will come out to testify on anomalies in any government agency.

Tumbado on Wednesday recanted his allegations of corruption against Bautista, and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Teofilo Guadiz III.

“After a careful reflection and deliberation, it is my honest desire to reiterate whatever allegations may have been said during the press conference on October 9, 2023 where the public declaration was made were all unintentional and misguided,” Tumbado said in his affidavit.

“All of the things said were borne out of impulse, irrational thinking, misjudgment, poor decision making,” he later added.

Tumbado previously claimed that Guadiz allegedly delivered corruption money to Bautista.

He also claimed that Guadiz told him two congressmen were also in on the collection of P5 million from transactions such as the opening of new routes or franchises.

Despite this, he said he maintained that there were problems in the DOTr that required immediate investigation by authorities.

Guadiz was suspended by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday after the allegations came out. Guadiz has denied the allegations.

Bautista, for his part, also denied any involvement in the alleged graft and said he didn't allow corruption in the DOTr.—AOL, GMA Integrated News