Piston pushes through protests; Manibela withdraws

Drivers and operators affiliated with transport group Piston marched from Welcome Rotonda to Mendiola on Wednesday for the second day of a nationwide transport strike, while rival group Manibela called off its participation.

Piston members joined allied progressive organizations near Malacañang Palace to demand lower petroleum prices, the removal of value-added and excise taxes on fuel products, and the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law.

Piston president Ody Floranda stated during a rally at Mendiola that the group will organize subsequent strikes unless the government repeals the fuel law, removes petroleum taxes, and lowers diesel prices to P55 per liter.

Meanwhile, Manibela withdrew from its planned multi-day strike following a Tuesday dialogue between group chairman Mar Valbuena and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos during a government rice distribution event at the Land Transportation Office.

Responding to public remarks made by Valbuena during the event, Manibela issued a statement Wednesday clarifying that the group remains non-partisan and focused on advocacy for transport workers.

Floranda expressed respect for Manibela’s decision to withdraw, noting that staging strikes remains a constitutional right for drivers while advising other transport leaders to consider the broader impact of their decisions.