Suspended LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III (Contributed photo)

It has been a harrowing past two weeks for suspended Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Teofilo Guadiz III, but now he finally feels exonerated. 

This, after Guadiz was personally cleared of corruption allegations--and apologized to--by his former executive assistant, Jefferson Tumbado during a motu proprio hearing of the House Committee on Transportation Monday, Oct. 23. 

With tears welling from his eyes, Guadiz faced House reporters after the panel hearing and declared that his name had been cleared. 

"Ako po’y nagpapasalamat at nalinis na rin po ang aking pangalan na matagal ko pong iniingatan ng 23 years. Finally po nalinis na rin po, at nalinawan na po ang lahat ng issue," he said. 

(I'm thankful that my name, which I have protected for the past 23 years, has been cleared. My name has finally been cleared and everyone now has clarity on the issue.) 

"Salamat po sa Panginoon, salamat po sa mga miyembro ng Kamara, at sa kanilang masugid na imbestigasyon, lumabas din po ang katotohanan," said Guadiz, whose suspension from the LTFRB was triggered by Tumbado's revelations last Oct. 9. 

‘Yon lang po ang aking masasabi. Sana po tuloy-tuloy na po ang paglunsad ng programa ng gobyerno sa modernisasyon. At nakita naman po niyo lahat ng mga miyembro ng mga jeepney organization suportado po sa programa natin, nagpapatuloy po nang walang korapsyon sa aking panahon," he further said. 

(That's all that I can say. Hopefully the government's modernization plan is continuous on the part of the government. As you can all members of the jeepney organizations support our program, it has continued without corruption during my time.) 

On Oct. 9, Tumbado, a former journalist. claimed in a press conference that at least P5 million was being paid in exchange for the approval of franchises, securing routes, and special permits. 

Two days later, he recanted his statement and said that he had no personal knowledge of any corruption activity directly involving Guadiz. He withdrew his recantion on Oct. 20, but insisted on his exoneration of Guadiz. 

Tumbado gave a public apology to the suspended official during the panel hearing.