DILG belittles transport strike

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos yesterday downplayed the transport strike scheduled for today, saying that 95 percent of public utility vehicle operators will continue to operate.

Abalos told reporters that the majority of transport groups had conveyed their non-participation in the protest move of the group MANIBELA (Malayang Alyansa ng Bus Employees at Laborers) over the phasing out of traditional jeepneys.

Among those that assured Abalos of their continuing operations are the Magnificent 7, the UV Express Group and Pasang Masda.

Nonetheless, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the police, and the Land Transportation Office would put in effect contingency measures to ensure the strike does not inconvenience commuters, Abalos said.

He said a multi-agency command center will be set up at the new MMDA head office in Pasig City to monitor the situation during the transport strike. Vehicles would also be prepositioned in strategic areas.

MMDA acting chairman Don Artes said the agency expects the same minimal impact as the previous two strikes, both staged by Manibela.

"The government will not be held hostage by people who are only promoting their own interests," Artes said in Filipino.

Pasang Masda head Obet Martin said they would not join the transport strike as they support the government's transport reforms.

Noise barrage

"We are calling on all our members nationwide, we do not want to make it difficult for our passengers. We are not participating in the strike tomorrow," Martin said in the vernacular.

Earlier, Manibela, whose officials railed against alleged corruption in the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, said it would hold a noise barrage and stage protests in front of the said agency, Department of Transportation and Malacañang.

Philippine National Railways chairperson Michael Ted Macapagal on Friday revealed that the allegations of corruption at LTFRB were intended to link DoTr Secretary Jaime Bautista to the issue.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suspended LTFRB chief Teofilo Guadiz III on 10 October following the claim of irregularities in the agency raised by former LTFRB executive assistant Jefferson Tumbado.

Tumbado said Sunday he would not be able to attend the hearing today called by the National Bureau of Investigation over his retracted claim that the alleged corruption at the LTFRB goes way up the government totem pole.

He said he'll be represented by lawyer Pearl Campanilla, adding he is "willing to cooperate in any parallel investigation to be conducted by the NBI."

The ex-LTFRB official said he'd need today to prepare for his appearance tomorrow before a congressional hearing to look at the allegations of corruption in the LTFRB.

Retraction

The NBI had subpoenaed Tumbado to appear before it and present evidence to support his claim, Department of Justice spokesperson Atty. Mico Clavano said on Saturday.

Citing the subpoena, Clavano warned that Tumbado may be penalized should he not appear before the NBI.

Tumbado appeared in a press conference of Manibela last 9 October to accuse Guadiz of accepting bribes in exchange for the quick approval of public transportation routes, franchises, and permits.

Two days later, Tumbado issued an affidavit to retract his allegations, saying they were "unintentional and misguided."