The Marcos regime police and armed forces water-cannoned and violently dispersed the protesting jeep drivers and operators in Bacolod City today, September 18. They picketed in front of the on Lacson Street where government agencies held the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) Summit.

Leaders of Undoc-Piston, KNETCO-Piston, and Bacod-Manibela were arrested, namely Lilian Sembrano, Rudy Catedral, Eric Bendoy, Shallemar Leutner, Melchor Omangyon, and Rodolfo Gardoce.

The groups were dispersed and their leaders arrested by the police even when they only wanted to enter and express their grievances at the transport summit. Officials from the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Land Transportation Office (LTO), and Office of Transportation Cooperatives (OTC) as well as Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez were present at the summit.

The national office of Piston condemned the arrest and violence against the drivers and operators. “This just proves that the Marcos Jr regime disregards us and will use repression and harassment rather than listen to the grievances of the common driver and operator,” the group said.

The group called on all the masses of drivers and operators to demand the immediate release of the Bacolod 6 using all militant means.

“Let’s prepare for street action to fight for the release of our comrades and for our rights,” Piston said. The arrested leaders were brought to the police station in Bacolod City.

The brazen repression against transport groups in Bacolod City and Region VI also follows the recent success achieved by their continuous action. It can be recalled that their action last August compelled the City Council to issue a resolution supporting the suspension of the pro-foreign PTMP.