Transport group Samahang Manibela Mananakay at Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon (Manibela) on Tuesday, Oct. 10, called for the government to probe the transportation agencies in the country.
&ldquo;Mula sa regional directors hanggang kay Secretary [Jaime] Bautista po ang role nitong corruption na to na dapat kasama sila sa imbestigahan,&rdquo; Manibela Chairperson Mar Valbuena told DZRH in an interview.&nbsp;
This came after Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Teofilo 'Jojo' Guadiz III was <a href="https://dzrh.com.ph/post/ltfrb-chief-suspended">suspended over alleged corruption</a> in their agency.
Manibela introduced Jeffrey Tumbado, a former Executive Assistant of the LTFRB chairman who revealed the alleged illegal transactions.&nbsp;
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista has <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ltfrb.central.office/videos/3116446698663737/">launched their probe</a> over the matter, emphasizing that they &ldquo;do not tolerate any form of corruption&rdquo; and will not think twice imposing &ldquo;the stiffest sanction&rdquo; provided there is evidence.&nbsp;
But Valbuena was not satisfied, dubious over the possibility that the issue would be taken lightly.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Hindi ba kung sila lang din ang mag-imbestiga nito baka moro-moro na naman ang kalalabasan. Dapat magkaroon ng independent body na magi-imbestiga dahil malawak po itong sakop ng LTFRB at DOTr. Dapat po Kongreso at Senado [ang mag-imbestiga] o magtalaga po ang ating pangulo ng independent body na mag-imbestiga dito sa corruption na to,&rdquo; he said.
Transport strike, call for LTFRB chief&rsquo;s resignation
In a press briefing on Monday, Tumbado said public utility vehicles (PUVs) operators who wanted a certain route would request him to hasten the process, leading them to pay an amount reaching P5 million to be prioritized. He called this scheme a &ldquo;ruta for sale&rdquo; or &ldquo;special permit for sale.&rdquo;
The Manibela chief lamented this treatment, citing <a href="https://www.dzrh.com.ph/post/ltfrb-sets-june-30">LTFRB&rsquo;s issued memorandum circular</a> which stated that traditional jeepneys could only operate by June 30.
&ldquo;Doon pa lamang po sa nilalabas nilang memorandum circular, mapipilitan ka nang lumapit sa kanila dahil ipit ka. Hindi naman pwedeng pagbigyan yung pakiusap mo nang wala kang pakimkim,&rdquo; Valbuena said.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Milyunan po itong pinag-uusapan [...] Ang nagdurusa po dito yung mga kawawang driver na kasamahan namin, yung mga operator at higit sa lahat po yung mga mananakay, ang taumbayan,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;
Manibela organized a <a href="https://dzrh.com.ph/post/manibela-declare-nationwide-transport-strike" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nationwide transport strike</a> to begin on October 16 as a protest against the phaseout of traditional public utility jeepneys (PUJs) while also acting as a call for Guadiz&rsquo;s resignation.
The group will bring their jeepneys in front of transportation agencies&rsquo; buildings while honking their jeepneys&rsquo; horns.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Mag-start po kami sa central office ng LTFRB at sa regional office po ng NCR dito sa may Regalado [Highway]. Sa Malaca&ntilde;ang ang last stop namin hanggang kung kailan po kami abutin dun at kung kailan po kami maririnig po ng ating presidente,&rdquo; Valbuena said.
When asked if Guadiz&rsquo;s resignation would mark the end of their protests, Valbuena clarified their need for assurance.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Ang makakapagpatigil lang po samin ay kung mase-secure po namin yung hanapbuhay namin [nang] hindi na po kami tinatakot. Yung validity po ng prangkisa namin ibalik po sa 5 years o at least 3 years,&rdquo; he said.
LTFRB earlier extended the <a href="https://www.dzrh.com.ph/post/ltfrb-extends-jeepney-phaseout-until-dec.-30">deadline for the consolidation of PUJs and franchises</a> for every traditional jeepney until the end of 2023.

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MANIBELA urges gov’t to probe LTFRB, DOTr over alleged corruption