Duterte accuses Piston, other groups of ‘committing rebellion’

DIE-IN Jeepney drivers and their supporters stage a die-in along a busy Manila road to signal the start of a two-day nationwide strike to protest the government’s phaseout of old jeepneys. —BULLIT MARQUEZ / AP

President Rodrigo Duterte slammed on Tuesday the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) and two other groups, accusing them of “committing rebellion.”

In a speech in Pili, Camarines Sur, Duterte said Piston, together with human rights group “Karapatan” and the labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), was in conspiracy with the communist rebels.

“Itong Karapatan, itong KMU, itong Piston, they are just the legal fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Kaya nga CPP, NDF, pati the NPA, the New People’s Army. It’s a one big conspiracy but they are at the same time, all of them, are committing right now  rebellion,” he said.

“It’s a one big conspiracy, mayroon sila, kita mo yung Piston may star pa ng, that’s the logo of the communists,” he added.

The President’s attacks against Piston were made amid the group’s nationwide transport strike.

Piston on Monday launched a two-day transport strike nationwide to protest the government’s program phasing out jeepneys at least 15 years old.

Piston is protesting the PUV modernization program aimed at phasing out old PUVs, while the government plans to replace the jeepneys with “eco-friendly” PUVs.

Duterte said he was giving drivers and operators until December 2017 to modernize their jeepneys.

Kaya, I’ll give you until the end of the month or until the end of the year. Sumunod kayo because January 1, pag may makita ako dyan mga dyip ninyo walang, di narehistro, luma, guguyurin ko yan sa harap ninyo. If you want, gusto ninyo ng gulo, marami man akong pulis.

Meanwhile, Karapatan and KMU have been critical of the policies of the Duterte administration.