MANILA - The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday said the subpoena from government investigators for Jefferson Tumbado, a former executive assistant at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), could not be sent due to the wrong address in the latter's affidavit.
"The NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) obtained a certification that no such address exists. Now, NBI is in the process of serving another subpoena to the right address. This will delay the process a little bit as he was supposed to appear on Monday if he had put the right address," DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said in a statement.
Clavano however clarified that Tumbado may still voluntarily go to the NBI to give his side in the controversy.
"He can reach out to the NBI if he is willing to still appear on Monday," he said.
In a press conference last Monday, Tumbado alleged that money regularly changed hands at the LTFRB in exchange for the issuance of permits for transport routes and franchises.
He has since changed his mind and, in a sworn affidavit, claimed his declarations had been "unintentional and misguided."
In his sworn statement, Tumbado apologized to suspended LTFRB chair Teofilo Guadiz III, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and the Office of the President, and said "things were just said out of impulse and irrational thinking, misjudgment and poor decision-making."
The NBI Anti-Graft Division nevertheless issued a subpoena for Tumbado despite the latter's recantation. (PNA)
