The House Committee on Transportation on Monday cited in contempt former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) official Jefferson Tumbado for failure to support his allegations of corruption against the agency.

The panel moved to detain Tumbado for a maximum period of 10 days following Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta’s motion to cite the former aide of suspended LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III in contempt.

Tumbado, during the hearing, said he has no “direct evidence” to substantiate his corruption allegations against Guadiz and the LTFRB, noting that his basis was the complaints of public utility vehicle operators.

“I don’t have direct evidence. Dahil lang po ito sa mga sumbong sa akin ng mga operators na sobrang taas ng hinihingi para sa provisional authority (This is just based on the complaints of the operators regarding the high fees for a provisional authority),” Tumbado said.

“Wala po akong direktang kaalaman na sangkot si Chairman Guadiz dito sa korapsyon na ito (I have no direct knowledge that Chairman Guadiz is involved in this corruption,” he added.

Tumbado previously accused Guadiz of corruption, alleging that money regularly changed hands at the LTFRB in exchange for the issuance of permits for transport routes and franchises.

He has since recanted, in a sworn affidavit, later alleging that his declarations had been “unintentional and misguided.”

Tumbado also apologized to Guadiz, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and the Office of the President, and said “things were just said out of impulse and irrational thinking, misjudgment and poor decision-making.” (PNA)

Photo credit: Facebook/HouseofRepsPH