“WE HAVE THE BEST RD”DUMLAO BACKED BY 200 TRANSPORT LEADERS, DRIVERS, AND OPERATORS AS MANIBELA PAYOLA ROW ESCALATES

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Around 200 transport leaders, operators, and drivers gathered outside the Department of Transportation-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOTr-CAR) office here Wednesday, September 23, to rally behind Regional Director PBGen. Glenn G. Dumlao (Ret.) as allegations of an illegal “payola” scheme involving transportation personnel continue to draw scrutiny.

Representing tourist vans, taxis, jeepneys, and other transport groups, the participants signed a manifesto expressing support for Dumlao and condemning what they described as attacks by MANIBELA chairperson Mario “Mar” Valbuena Jr.

The groups said they had not personally experienced the alleged collection of unauthorized payments. Instead, several leaders pointed to their own dealings with the regional office, citing improved accessibility of personnel and faster processing of franchise-related transactions when documentary requirements were complete.

Their message was direct: their experiences with the agency did not match the allegations being circulated.

The transport leaders challenged Valbuena to present his evidence before the proper investigative or legal authorities rather than through social media, saying formal investigation would provide the appropriate venue for determining whether wrongdoing occurred.

The rally, however, does not establish whether the allegations are true or false.

Valbuena has accused personnel linked to the Cordillera transportation office of allegedly collecting payments from tourist van operators. In earlier statements, he called on Transportation Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez to investigate and said he had received letters, affidavits, and other documents related to the allegations. (Daily Tribune)

Valbuena has also presented images that he described as evidence of payments. The purpose, recipients, and circumstances surrounding those transactions have not been independently established, leaving the allegations subject to verification and investigation.

Dumlao, for his part, has denied the allegations and expressed openness to a fact-finding investigation by the DOTr national office. He has also urged that complaints and accusations be addressed through proper channels. (GuruPress Cordillera)

He was not present during Wednesday’s rally, as he was attending budget hearings at the House of Representatives.

The dispute comes amid broader concerns surrounding transportation regulation in the Cordillera, including delays in franchise and provisional-authority processing, the alleged involvement of unofficial intermediaries, additional payments reportedly being sought from operators, and conflicting rules affecting transport services.

Dumlao has previously said the regional office itself has been examining alleged irregularities involving transportation transactions. In a September 19 report, he said a comprehensive investigation into informal and potentially corrupt practices had been initiated and that the findings had been submitted to the national office. (Bombo Radyo Baguio)

The controversy therefore extends beyond the competing statements of two transport-sector figures. At its core is a question that only evidence and due process can settle: whether irregular collections actually occurred, who—if anyone—was responsible, and whether existing safeguards within the transportation system were sufficient to prevent them.

For the transport groups gathered in La Trinidad, however, the rally was also a declaration of confidence in the regional office.

“Sorry, Mr. Mar Valbuena, but we have the best RD in the Cordillera,” read the sentiment expressed by supporters during the gathering.

As the allegations remain unproven, the call from both sides now converges on the same destination: an investigation capable of separating accusation from evidence and determining accountability based on facts.

The story remains developing.