AN INDEPENDENT congressional candidate in Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan is in hot water after a transport businessman claimed that he had been "scammed' by the former.

Jeunesse Dublin Meñoto of Barangay Manocmanoc, Boracay Island said in a press conference that in 2006, he decided to apply for a transport franchise. He organized Paradise Chartered Transport and Services Inc. as an association of transport groups operating on this resort island to strengthen his bid.

"After some time, I met Matt Wacan and a certain Nueto Rufin whom they asked me to count them as a member of the association. After several years, I learned from other transport groups that both Rufin and Wacan sold to others the franchise I worked hard," he said.

Wacan is currently running as an independent candidate for congressman in the second district of Aklan. He is a retired provincial spokesperson of the Philippine Army in Aklan.

Meñoto said he tried to appeal the said case to the Land Transport Franchise and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), but it encountered several delays due to the Boracay closure in 2018 and the Covid-19 pandemic.

"There was also a time that a fixer from the LTFRB approached me to help one in the case, but it was also overturned by the events. There is no politics involved in the press conference that I called. I only wanted the public to know what Wacan and Rufin have done to me," he said.

He also added that he has also sought help from the LTFRB to investigate his complaint.

In a statement coming from the camp of Wacan, it denied the involvement of the retired lieutenant in the complaint raised by Meñoto.

"Wacan's name was just dragged in the said controversy. He doesn't know the dealings between Meñoto and Rufin. We are ready to face whatever complaint coming from the complainant," the statement said. (SunStar Philippines)