Bayan Panay condemns Mabilog for
persecuting 'Libreng Sakay' drivers

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan -Panay) condemned the move of the Iloilo City Government particularly its Traffic Management and Transportation Regulation Office (TMTRO) for arresting six drivers offering ‘Libreng Sakay’ to the public by saying that those arrested were just victims of Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog’s “dirty politics.”

Bayan-Panay deputy secretary general Reylan Vergara said, “We insisted that the drivers did not make any violation.” He said that it can’t even be considered as “cutting trip” because the same routes stipulated on their franchises were observed.

“Ano gid abi ang ila kahadlukan dira because it did not destroy or affect the entire transport sector?” he asked.

Vergara alleged that the issue was raised in order to hamper the main purpose of the free rides.

He said, the drivers allowed themselves to be commissioned by philanthropist Rommel Ynion to give free rides because they saw there’s nothing wrong with doing such public service.

“Himu man sia tani iya political gimmick para makahatag alibyo sa sector ka transportation. Kon naghatag man free rides si Sir Ynion, tani nagpanghatag man sia sang free ice cream kag kon nagpanghatag man si Sir Ynion ka spaghetti noodles tani nagpanghatag man sia ka sauce; not stop it, so that everybody’s happy,” he said.

SORRY NOT ENOUGH

Vergara said TMTRO head Joe Tengco’s apology is not enough after issuing a wrong violation to the drivers. He was referring to “unfair labor practice” written on the ticket issued by the TMTRO to the drivers, which later the TMTRO corrected as “no special permit”.

“Tengco is head of TMTRO. Nakabalo sia dapat kon ano gid ang violation ka driver. Nagpangdakop sia nga he is not even aware sang violation. Basi something is wrong with him,” he said.

Vergara suspects that Tengco may have been ordered by Mabilog to immediately arrest the drivers even if there was no clear violation committed.

“Sila ang nagapagamit kag indi kami,” he said amid criticisms that the drivers were used for politics, considering that Ynion is running for mayor in the May 13 elections.

Vergara said Bayan will support Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytors Nationwide (Piston)-Panay headed by Edgar Salarda in its proposal to legalize the “Libreng Sakay” project by securing a special permit from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 6 (LTFRB-6).

He said they are set to get the LTFRB’s opinion on the matter as well as clarify the alleged violations the drivers committed.

“We are also willing to support Piston in filing the appropriate charges against irresponsible persons,” he said.

Bayan-Panay and Piston-Panay have 30,000 members including 7,000 drivers all over Panay Island.*