Marcos suspends LTFRB chief Guadiz amid corruption allegation
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the suspension of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III.
According to a statement released by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Monday, Oct. 9, Marcos ordered Guadiz's suspension due to alleged corruption under his administration.
"The President does not tolerate any misconduct in his administration and has instructed the immediate investigation of this matter. He strongly condemns dishonesty and duplicity in public service," the statement read.
"The President does not tolerate any misconduct in his administration and has instructed the immediate investigation of this matter. He strongly condemns dishonesty and duplicity in public service."
The suspension comes after Jeffrey Tumbado, a former executive assistant of Guadiz disclosed the alleged corruption by the agency in a press conference held by transport group MANIBELA where public utility vehicle operators paid transport officials up to P5 million to get routes, franchises, and special permits, among others.
Tumbado also said aside from Guadiz, other officials from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Malacañang were in the take.
"Marami pang corrupt dyan sa LTFRB at DOTr at dapat alisin na sa pwesto!," MANIBELA said in a Facebook post.
"Mga corrupt, pahirap sa taong bayan, itinatago sa likod ng kung ano ano kunong mga programa ng modernization," it added.
Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said that there is an ongoing probe into the allegations against Guadiz. He said that the suspended LTFRB chief was already ordered to explain the allegations against him.
“We [have] already launched an investigation on the allegations against the LTFRB. While we are already evaluating the alleged irregularities involving [Chairman Guadiz], we also issued a notice to explain against Guadiz for him to shed light on the allegations,” Bautista said.
Guadiz, for his part, said in a statement that the agency is always ready to fight against any form of corruption inside the LTFRB.
"Kagaya nga po ng dati na nating ginagawa, patuloy po nating aayusin at titiyakin na mananatili tayong patas sa paglilingkod sa ating mga stakeholder," he said.
"As of this morning, nasa opisina naman ako at wala pa po akong nalalaman na anumang opisyal na inihain laban po sa atin pero kung mayroon man, haharapin naman po natin ito dahil malinis po ang ating kalooban," he added.
In December 2022, Guadiz was appointed as LTFRB chair. Prior to that, he was an assistant secretary for the Department of Transportation's road sector.