The House Committee on Transporation is set to vote on whether or not former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Executive Secretary Jeffrey Tumbado will be freed from detention, panel chair and Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop said on Wednesday, Oct. 25.
Tumbado is presently detained in the lower house after he was cited for contempt due to the inconsistencies of his answers to lawmakers' inquiries during the hearing into the alleged widespread corruption in the LTFRB.
Interviewed during DZRH's Dos Por Dos, Acop said that Tumbado's camp had forwarded a formal letter requesting to lift the contempt order.
"Yung aking comiittee, nakikipag-ugnayan na sa mga miyembro para magkaroon kami ng meeting bukas at madesisyunan ito. Pag-uusapan kung pagbibigyan namin yung hinihiling ni Mr. Tumbado at kaniyang lawyer," he added.
Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop sa ipinakulong sa Kongreso: Ang penalty na binigay ng committee ay 10 araw. Kaya lang kahapon, nakatanggap ako ng sulat na humihingi na pwedeng i-lift ang contempt order.#DosPorDos#SamaSamaTayoPilipino
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The Antipolo lawmaker said the former LTFRB employee violated Section 11 of House rules which was why he was cited for contempt.
"Ang sagot niya ay pabago-bago. Kung minsan, hindi tama yung sinasagot. Karamihan sa miyembro ng aking komite ay medyo nainis sa kanya, si Congressman [Rodante] Marcoleta ay nag-move na i-cite siya ng contempt. Inaprubahan naman ng miyembro ko," he said.
Acop mentioned that they will conduct a second hearing to look into the documents that allegedly proves the corrupt practices in the LTFRB.
"May binanggit na dokumento at saka pangyayari at listahan ng mga pangalan [...] Meron siyang listahan na ibinigay daw kay Mr. Mar Malbuena, pinuno ng MANIBELA. Kaya pinakuha namin yung listahan na yun," he said.
The House solon added that they will invite the listed individuals who can attest to Tumbado's allegations.
When asked if suspended LTFRB chairman Teofilo 'Jojo' Guadiz is already absolved from the alleged corruption, Acop said he is still not.
"Hindi pa po. Pero doon sa statement at mga sinabi ni Mr. Tumbado, categorically, sinabi ni Mr. Tumbado na wala siyang [...] direktang kasama si Atty. Guadiz sa kalokohan na sinasabi niya," the lawmaker said.
