Jessie Tabanao was arrested outside the LTFRB-7 office at the North Reclamation Area in Cebu City at around 11 a.m. after he allegedly returned to the complainant part of the money which he earlier received to avoid encumbrances with the law ( CDN PHOTO/ ADOR MAYOL)
Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) on Monday arrested a man who misrepresented the Land Transportation, Franchising, and Regulatory Board (LTFRB-7) and allegedly demanded money from a public utility vehicle (PUV) operator with a promise to already release his franchise.
Jessie Tabanao was arrested outside the LTFRB-7 office at the North Reclamation Area in Cebu City at around 11 a.m. after he allegedly returned to the complainant part of the money which he earlier received to avoid encumbrances with the law.
NBI-7 Director Patricio Bernales said Tabanao will be charged with estafa and violation of the Anti-Red Tape Act.
“(Although he returned a part of the money), estafa is a continuing act,” Bernales said.
NBI investigation showed that Tabanao also victimized other operators, one of whom gave him P1.3 million.
Tabanao, who is now detained at the NBI-7 stockade, denied the accusations against him. But he refused to further issue any more statements.
LTFRB-7 Director Ahmed Cuizon said that a moratorium on the issuance of PUV franchises, implemented in 2003, remains in effect. The moratorium covers franchises for jeepneys, taxis, buses, and V-hires.
Cuizon said reports reaching his office mentioned of unscrupulous persons soliciting money in exchange for the issuance of PUV franchises.
“We heard about this (extortion practices) already. (But) we were not able to come up with a definitive action for lack of any specific complaint. Now, we have two ladies whose money were given to the suspect (Tabanao),” he said.
Cuizon issued a certification to the NBI to attest that Tabanao is not authorized to represent their office or engage in any transactions on their behalf.
“I want to call on all those who have been victimized by such modus, franchise reservation for a fee, to please come out in the open so that you will be able to file the appropriate complaint and to report to us what happened to you so that justice will be served,” he said.
“I also warn potential investors of PUVs to please wait until we announce that there is such an opening of such franchises,” Cuizon added.
Cuizon said he also ordered the preventive suspension of LTFRB employee, Emil Membrellas, while they investigate accusations that he was among those who negotiated with PUV franchise applicants.
A complaint said she was referred to Membrellas on December 2016 for her PUV franchise application. But Membrellas was not around when she visited the LTFRB-7 office.
The security guard on duty then referred her to Tabanao, who promised to process her franchise application for a fee of P300, 000.
The complainant, who is a V-hire operator, negotiated for a lowering of the amount to P270,000 which Tabanao, a fixer, agreed with.
Thinking that Tabanao was an employee of LTFRB-7, the complainant paid the agreed amount.
However, on April 19, her V-hire was impound by LTFRB-7. Her driver had told LFTRB-7 personnel that their unit’s papers were still on process.
“I was with the impression that the franchise I was paying (for) was genuine because the person processing it has an office at the LTFRB,” she said.
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