Transport execs sued over jeepney phaseout

MANILA, Philippines — Transport group Manibela yesterday filed a graft complaint against Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and officials of the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in connection with the impending phaseout of traditional jeepneys under the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

Represented by its president Mario Valbuena Jr., Manibela lodged its complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Aside from Bautista, named as respondents in the complaint were LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III, board members Liza Marie Paches and Mercy Jane Paras-Leynes, and executive director Robert Peig.

Likewise named as respondents were Office of Transport Cooperative chairman Ferdinand Ortega as well as Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra.

Manibela said it included Guevarra in the complaint “for defending the respondents instead of telling them to follow the Constitution.”

The transport group specifically wanted Guevara and the transport officials to be held liable for violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees as well as for grave threats and grave coercion as defined and penalized under the Revised Penal Code.

“All these violations constitute grave and serious misconduct committed by the respondents and they should be dismissed from public office and be barred from ever holding public office,” Manibela urged the ombudsman.

The transport group’s five-page complaint affidavit stemmed from the LTFRB’s issuance of Memorandum Circular No. 2023-051 dated Dec. 14, 2023, ordering PUV operators and drivers to consolidate into cooperatives as their individual franchises shall be considered automatically revoked by Dec. 31, 2023.

By then, the unconsolidated jeepneys, even if registered with the Land Transportation Office, shall no longer be allowed to ply the streets and pick up passengers, the memorandum circular stated.

Manibela said no hearings or consultations were held with PUV drivers or operators before the issuance of the consolidation order, which the group said was meant to favor foreign manufacturers.

The officials also failed to serve and protect the interest of the people as well as the affected sector’s right to “life, liberty and property,” which is enshrined in the Constitution, the group said.

The respondents also failed to display patriotism required from public officials under Section 4 of RA 6713 by favoring foreign vehicle suppliers even when there are local entities that have long been in the business of vehicle manufacturing such as the Francisco Motors Corp. and Sarao Motors Inc.

The transport group manifested before the ombudsman that it is reserving the right to file a supplemental complaint to include suppliers of the so-called modern jeeps as well as the regional directors of DoTr and LTFRB.

The LTFRB initially gave traditional jeepney operators and drivers until June 30 last year to consolidate into cooperatives.

The deadline was extended to Dec. 31, but major transport groups, such as Manibela and Piston, pushed through with their weeklong strikes to oppose the consolidation as well as the traditional jeepney phaseout.