Militants protest fuel ‘overpricing’

Militant transport groups led by the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) held a protest caravan Wednesday against the so-called “Big 3” oil companies’ alleged overpricing of petroleum products.

From Quezon City, some 100 demonstrators in around 20 vans and passenger jeepneys trooped to Pilipinas Shell’s main office in Makati City at around noon to air their sentiments on the series of fuel price hikes.

They also demanded the scrapping of the oil deregulation law and the value-added tax imposed on petroleum products.

According to George San Mateo, Piston secretary general, the demonstration in Makati City was held simultaneously with protest actions launched by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Bayan Muna and Kilusang Mayo Uno in other parts of Metro Manila, as well as transport strikes in Southern Tagalog and the Bicol region.

“Today’s activities will serve as a ‘buildup’ for a nationwide protest to be mounted in the coming months,” San Mateo said, adding that Piston was protesting the delayed and slim adjustments in oil prices made by Shell, Chevron and Petron despite plunging world crude prices.—With Penelope Endozo and Kristine Felisse Mangunay