By Liza Soriano
The House of Representatives panel has cited in contempt on Monday former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) employee Jeff Tumbado.
Tumbado earlier accused suspended LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz of being involved in corruption.
After Tumbado repeatedly said that he had no personal knowledge of the alleged corruption, Sagip party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta made the motion and cited him in contempt during the hearing of the House Committee on Transportation.
Tumbado said that it was “only his opinion.”
“I don’t have direct evidence. Dahil lang po ito sa mga sumbong sa akin ng mga operators na sobrang taas ng hinihingi [na pera] para sa provisional authority,” he added.
Marcoleta then said that Tumbado only wasted the time of the lawmakers.
“Wala kaming panahon para sa iyo. Sinayang mo ang oras ng mga kongresista na nagpunta rito,” Marcoleta said.
“We cannot rely on the answers of this resource person,” he added.
The Committee possesses the authority to take action against a witness in cases where the witness disobeys any directive issued by the Committee, refuses to take an oath, declines to provide testimony, or avoids responding to appropriate inquiries posed by the Committee or its members.
Such actions may include the punishment for contempt, provided that a majority of all the Committee’s members support this decision, especially when a witness testifies falsely or evasively.
(ai/mnm)
