TRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime Bautista yesterday filed cyber libel complaints against Malayang Alyansa ng Bus Employees at Laborers (Manibela) chairperson Mar Valbuena and a journalist over their accusations of his alleged involvement in irregularities at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
Bautista filed the charges before the Department of Justice, saying Valbuena and journalist Ira Panganiban violated Article 355 in relation to Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code and Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
In an interview with reporters, Bautista said he filed the complaint after he was alleged to have received money from illegal activities in the agency.
“They have many accusations that I received money, bribes, which is not true. I just want to protect my name, which has been unblemished for almost 45 years,” Bautista said.
“I cannot allow myself to be the subject of another’s desperate attempt to attain fame, especially when malicious, baseless, and untruthful statements are hurled against me if only to put a blemish on my untarnished track record and reputation of excellence and integrity,” he added.
Bautista stressed that he was never part of corruption or bribery schemes in the department and its attached agencies such as the LTFRB.
“For the record, I have never received any bribe of any sort, much less used any amount of money to maintain my position as Secretary of the DOTr,” he added.
Valbuena had earlier claimed that former LTFRB official Jeff Tumbado alleged that suspended agency chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III delivered corruption money to Bautista.
Tumbado had claimed that transport service operators had to pay Guadiz and other transport officials up to P5 million in return for the agency granting them franchises, special permits to operate and additional routes.
He later recanted his allegations and apologized to Guadiz and Bautista.
Bautista said Panganiban was included in the case after he posted on his Facebook account that the DOTr chief was involved in illegal activities and received corruption money from the LTFRB.
“I have no idea what this is all about. I have simply been reporting the news just like everyone else has,” Panganiban said.
As for Tumbado, Bautista said it is up to the National Bureau of Investigation, which opened a probe on his corruption claims, to pursue the case.
“The NBI is doing its investigation although we also have an internal probe on chairman Guadiz and Tumbado,” he said, adding they have submitted an initial report on the corruption claims to the Office of the President.
“We already submitted a report, an initial report to the Office of the President. Let us wait for a statement,” he said.
Asked if his filing of the complaint might create a chilling effect on those who may have knowledge of irregularities in the government, Bautista said the public should wait for the result of the process.
“Let’s follow the process. Let’s just for the result of that process,” he said.
Last week, Valbuena called for immediate action on alleged corruption in the LTFRB, particularly in connection with the renewal of the franchise of the public utility vehicles and PUV jeepney program.
The group also called for the resignation of Guadiz and Bautista.
Last week, President Marcos Jr. suspended Guadiz. — With Myla Iglesias
