The Malayang Alyansa ng Bus Employees at Laborers (MANIBELA) has announced that it will proceed with its planned transport strike on Monday, October 16, despite recent developments regarding corruption allegations against the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
In a statement made on Thursday, MANIBELA President Mar Valbuena confirmed that the nationwide transport strike will proceed as scheduled. The strike aims to protest against the LTFRB’s deadline of December 31 for the consolidation of traditional jeepneys, which is part of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
This decision comes after former LTFRB employee Jeff Tumbado recanted his accusations of corruption against Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and suspended LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III. Previously, Tumbado had accused Guadiz of delivering corruption money to Bautista and implicated two congressmen in questionable transactions related to the opening of new routes or franchises.
In response to the allegations, Guadiz was suspended pending an investigation, which he vehemently denied. Bautista also refuted the accusations, asserting his commitment to maintaining a corruption-free Department of Transportation (DOTr).
Furthermore, LTFRB Board Member Mercy Paras Leynes has been appointed as the LTFRB Officer-in-Charge (OIC) chairperson from October 10, 2023, until October 9, 2024.
Despite the recanted allegations, MANIBELA remains resolute in its stance against the LTFRB’s PUVMP and will proceed with the transport strike on October 16 to voice their concerns and advocate for their rights as transport workers.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 13, 2023
