LTFRB HAS NEW OIC

TRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime Bautista on Tuesday appointed Mercy Leynes as officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

This after Teofilo Guadiz III was ordered suspended by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. amid corruption allegations.

Leynes will serve the agency from Oct. 10, 2023 until Oct. 9, 2024.

Bautista said Guadiz was ordered to explain the allegation of corruption and other irregularities in the LTFRB, particularly which involves the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.

“We do not tolerate any form of corruption and will not hesistate to impose the stiffest sanction if the evidence so warrants,” Bautista said.

Jeffrey Tumbado, a former executive assistant of Guadiz “exposed” the alleged corruption by the agency in a press conference held by transport group MANIBELA on Monday.

According to Tumbado, the routes of public utility vehicles, special permits, substitutions, board resolutions and franchises are “for sale” at the LTFRB.

MANIBELA chairman Mar Valbuena said they will conduct a nationwide transport strike on Monday, October 16, to protest the alleged corruption within the LTFRB.

Valbuena said about 240,000 traditional jeepneys are expected to join the strike.