A bus operators group leader believes that former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando benefited from the “payola system” in the transport sector. Homer Mercado, president of the South Luzon Bus Operators Association (Soluboa), said the payola system started when Fernando took over the MMDA leadership. Mercado said bus operators started giving payola to MMDA personnel about five years ago when it started imposing more stringent rules covering franchises. He added that even legitimate bus operators were forced to pay payola because some enforcers can actually invent violations against. When the operators refused, their buses were impounded for at least a week which translated to a loss in their earnings. In an interview on ABS-CBN's morning show, “Umagang Kay Ganda,” Fernando denied that he knew about the payola system. “I wouldn't have tolerated it if I knew about it,” Fernando said in a phonepatch interview during the morning show. The former MMDA chief, who was in Taiwan, said the bus operators may have axe to grind because he had been very strict against erring passenger buses. Mercado said the members of Soluboa will try to meet with new MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino to reveal everything they knew about the “payola system” which the said existed up to the present. He said they were ready to give the names of the MMDA officials and personnel who receive payola, as well as details on how it operates. – ABS
