LTFRB-6 chief rebuts corruption raps, says it’s all demolition job

CEBU, Philippines - Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board Region-Region 6 director Romulo Bernardes has denied the allegations of corruption, saying this was a demolition job orchestrated by LTFRB-6 regional hearing officer Rommel Duron, who he said has been after his position.

Early last week, local transport leaders Raymundo Parcon and Rizalito Alido alleged that Bernades demanded P5,000 each from PUJs plying the Mandurria-Hibaoan route in exchange for his approval on their petition for a route extension.

The two transport leaders also claimed that Bernades has likewise been asking P70,000 and P25,000 to P40,000 from applicants of new taxi and PUJ franchises, respectively.

Bernardes said he believed his accusers were being manipulated allegedly by Duron, with whom he had a heated verbal altercation a couple of weeks back over the schedule of hearings for franchise applications.

He also held Duron responsible for the disappearance of the bribe money offered to him (Bernades) to expedite a franchise application.

Bernades said he forwarded the money to Duron after rejecting the briber and ordered the latter to conduct an investigation. He said Duron, however, allegedly refused to investigate the matter but did not return the bribe money.

The alleged bribery attempt and disappearance of the bribe money, which occurred on June 27, are now being investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation, said Bernades who was confident that the NBI’s probe will result in the filing of appropriate charges against the people concerned.

In a press conference on July 11, Iloilo City Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association president Benny Espinosa revealed that Parcon and Alido were former officers of the group but were hastily booted out for alleged misdemeanors, such as sowing intrigues against the group and its leadership and making false representations, among others.

Espinosa said he and his group decided to come out not just to express their support for Bernades, but to warn the public about Parcon and Alido. —Contributed article