LAWMAKERS yesterday ordered the detention at the House of Representatives of the former executive assistant of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Teofilo Guadiz III after he was cited in contempt for flip-flopping on his claim of corruption in the agency.
The House committee on transportation chaired by Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop approved the motion of Rep. Rodante Marcoleta (PL, Sagip) to cite in contempt Jeff Tumbado, who said that was just making a personal opinion when he accused Guadiz and the agency of corruption, a statement which did not sit well with congressmen who felt the resource person only wasted their time.
“None, your honor. That’s just my opinion,” Tumbado, who earlier exposed the alleged corruption in the agency only to recant it later, told Parañaque City Rep. Gustavo Tambunting, who said: “That’s the problem, boss, you’ll give us an opinion without proof? You wasted the time of congressmen who went here even if we’re on a break.”
Tumbado said he felt resentful after Guadiz did not listen to him during a dispute with a fellow executive assistant: “At the time, I felt terrible because of what he did when he didn’t listen to my explanation.”
Tumbado admitted he does not have any direct evidence to prove his claims, adding he would not have done what he did if he had not been transferred to the LTFRB’s franchising division by Guadiz, who said he did it to diffuse the tension between Tumbado and fellow executive assistants over their office rivalry.
According to Tumbado, he felt terrible towards Guadiz – his former boss – as the latter did not listen to his side during a dispute with another LTFRB executive assistant. Tumbado later claimed that the other executive assistant collected bribes from colorum public vehicles.
Marcoleta said Tumbado was making a mockery of the congressional power to hold investigations in aid of legislation “and we cannot let this discourtesy pass.”
“We don’t have time for you. You wasted the time of all congressmen who came here,” Marcoleta said. “We cannot rely on the answers of this resource person.”
Marcoleta then moved to cite Tumbado in contempt, prompting Acop to approve the motion after members raised no objections.
Tumbado, who apologized to Guadiz and Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, would be detained for up to 10 days but the panel has the power to cut it short or extend it if he would be cited in contempt again.
Tumbado earlier alleged that Guadiz and unidentified officials from the Department of Transportation and Malacañang have received huge sums of money in exchange for the renewal of franchises, routes, special permits, and other documents from the agency, an allegation denied by Guadiz, who was immediately suspended by President Marcos Jr.
Days later, the “whistleblower” issued an affidavit of recantation, saying what he said was out of impulse, irrational thinking, misjudgment, and poor decision-making.
