A high-ranking official of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) was ordered suspended by the Department of Transport (DOTr) over allegations that he received a PHP4.8 million (US$92,186) bribe.
As reported by RMN, Executive Director Samuel Jardin of the LTFRB was ordered suspended for 90 days in a DOTr document dated yesterday but was made public only today.
The suspension stems from the allegation of an unnamed complainant alleging that a woman who introduced herself as a representative of Jardin asked for PHP4.8 million in exchange for a document that’s needed when applying for a franchise of a public utility vehicle, reported Rappler.
The LTFRB is responsible for granting franchises and regulating public vehicles such as jeepneys, buses, and taxi cabs. It’s unclear what type of vehicle the complainant was applying a license for.
According to the document, the DOTr charged Jardin with violating Republic Act (RA) 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 for facilitating the processing of the requested document of the complainant. He was also charged with RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for allegedly receiving the bribe.
If found guilty, he will be dismissed from service, ABS-CBN reported. He was told to answer the allegations within three days.
In a statement released this afternoon, the DOTr said: “The DOTr resounds its stern warning that disciplinary action shall come swift and unrelenting to any official or employee, no matter the rank, for the slightest hint of corruption.”
Prior to the announcement of Jardin’s suspension, the DOTr announced that two officials will be suspended over allegations of corruption. As of writing, the DOTr has yet to announce who it will suspend next.
