Jefferson G. Tumbado, the former executive assistant of suspended Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III, was a no-show at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday, Oct. 16, despite the subpoena that required him to appear to shed light on his corruption allegations.
Last Monday, Oct. 9, Tumbado appeared at a press conference of transport group MANIBELA and made accusations that Guadiz and Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista were involved in corruption.
The accusations led President Marcos to suspend Guadiz. Bautista, on the other hand, had denied the accusation.
However, last Wednesday, Oct. 11, Tumbado issued an affidavit of recantation over the accusations he made against Guadiz and Bautista.
In his affidavit of recantation, Tumbado said it was issued as “a form of public apology in favor of Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III, Secretary Jaime Bautista of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and to the Office of the President….”
“Whetever allegations may have been said during the press conference on October 9, 2023 where the public declaration was made were all unintentional and misguided” and that “the things said were borne out of impulse, irrational thinking, misjudgment, poor decision making and was encouraged by some individuals to make the statement which may have added to my confusion and affected my better judgment,” he also said in his affidavit.
But he said: “I still stand by the issue that there is indeed problem in the agency concerned that requires immediate investigation by authorities concerned and those responsible be held accountable.”
On Tumbado's non-appearance at the NBI, Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Brigido J. Dulay said: “Ang huling balita namin ay nagpaalam itong si Mr. Tumbado na hindi siya makakapunta dito sa tinawag na subpoena ng NBI (The latest report that we received is that Tumabado sought permission not to appear based on the subpoena issued by the NBI)."
Dulay said Tumbado’s former lawyer went to the NBI to tell investigators that the former executive assistant of Guadiz can’t come.
“Ang balita ko ang rason nya kanina kung bakit hindi siya nakapunta ay masakit daw yung ipin nya at pupunta daw sya sa dentista (I learned that the reason Tumbado gave was that he had a toothache and needed to go to the dentist),” Dulay said.
He also said that the lawyer had withdrawn as Tumbado's counsel.
“Karapatan naman ng abugado na magbitiw kahit anong oras at karapatan din naman ni Mr. Tumbado na magpalit ng abugado at anytime (It is the right of the lawyer to withdraw as counsel and it is the right of Tumbado to get another lawyer),” he pointed out.
He assured that the NBI will give Tumbado a chance to appear before the NBI.