Court orders arrest of Piston leader over transport strike in February

FILE: The PISTON head was charged with violating Section 20(k) of the Commonwealth Act 146 or the Public Service Law with a bail set at P4,000.
(PNA photos by Noel Veloso)

The Quezon City trial court has ordered on Friday the arrest of George San Mateo, the president of the transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) for conducting a transport strike in February 2017.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) board member Aileen Lizada announced on Tuesday that the court finds the existence of a probable cause for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the accused San Mateo.

The PISTON head was charged with violating Section 20(k) of the Commonwealth Act 146 or the Public Service Law with a bail set at P4,000.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by the LTFRB in September against San Mateo saying that the transport strike in February was prohibited under Memorandum Circular 2011-04 that outlines the revised terms for the granting of certificates of public convenience, and the Public Service Act.

The LTFRB cited Section 20 (k) of Commonwealth Act No. 146, or the Public Service Act, which says that it is unlawful for any public service to “adopt, maintain, or apply practices or measures, rules or regulations to which the public shall be subject in its relations with the public service.”

The issue came after several drivers and operators organized a rally against the government’s Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) modernization program which they said is “anti-poor” as replacement of PUVs will cost them P1 million per unit.

The PUV modernization program, mandated by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), intends to achieve “safe and comfortable transport, predictable travel time, disciplined and competent drivers, and fair regulations.”

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