LTFRB chief not yet off the hook

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III is not yet off the hook despite his reinstatement amid corruption allegations against him, according to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.

- BELLA CARIASO

In a radio interview, Bautista said he had requested the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to hasten the investigation of Guadiz.

"We are still awaiting the result of the investigation of the NBI. The result will be used as the basis of the final decision," Bautista said.

He signed a special order reinstating Guadiz on Nov. 3.

The Office of the President cited the recantation of Jeff Tumbado, the former head executive assistant of Guadiz, as basis for his return to the LTFRB.

"Based on the order of the Office of the President. According to the paragraph, 'in view thereof and in the absence of other witnesses against Guadiz, Tumbado being the apparent witness in the case, there is no reason to further place Guadiz under preventive suspension unless a supervening event maintaining accusation against him is put forth in this office, so the investigation of the NBI will push through," Bautista noted.

Tumbado earlier alleged that his former boss was involved in multimillion-peso anomalies involving franchises and different transactions within the LTFRB.