Big public transport groups back Eleazar’s senatorial bid

By: Dennis Gutierrez - 3 years ago

Former PNP chief and now senatorial candidate Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s three biggest public transport alliances threw their support to former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now senatorial candidate Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar in the coming May elections, citing his stern policy against “kotong cops” and for lending his voice to air the concerns of the transport sector amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a joint statement, the Pangkahalatang Sanggunian Manila at Suburbs Drivers Association (Pasang-Masda), Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP), and the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO) committed to support the senatorial candidacy of Eleazar on behalf of their over half a million officers and
members.
“Over the years, the Pangkahalatang Sanggunian Manila at Suburbs Drivers Association (Pasang-Masda), the Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP), and the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO) have always been united in voicing out the concerns and in fighting for the rights and welfare of all drivers and operators of public utility vehicles across the country. We intend to uphold this unity and show our force in the coming May 9, 2022 elections,” the three transport groups said.
According to the groups, Pasang-Masda has around 120,000 members while ALTODAP has 450,000 members.

The groups described Eleazar as an embodiment of what they wanted to see from a public servant — “tough but fair, approachable but firm in his principle of fighting for what is just and right, a man with honor and integrity, and a man who believes in consultative leadership.”

According to the groups, Eleazar always made sure that their complaints against erring policemen and traffic enforcers who were engaged in extortion and other illegal activities were not only heard but immediately addressed when he was still the district director of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) until he became the Chief PNP.

Eleazar also served as the transport groups’ adviser when he served as the commander of the government’s Joint Task Force COVID Shield, using his influence and reach for the implementation of reasonable lockdown rules “in order for us to go out and earn a living in the middle of the pandemic.”

Further, Eleazar has since been vocal about the need for “ayuda” or fuel subsidy and the temporary suspension of excise tax as stop gap measures to help the transport sector weather the effects of the mobility restrictions brought by the pandemic which was further worsened by the recent series of big-time oil price hikes.

“Based on our consultations and our assessments of the candidates for the May 9, 2022 elections, we believe that General Eleazar has the qualifications, the track record and the moral ascendancy to fight for the interest of those in the public transport sector,” the groups said.

Eleazar expressed his gratitude to Pasang-Masda, ALTODAP, and ACTO for believing in his capability to serve the public by enacting laws that will find solutions to the daily problems of ordinary Filipinos, including public transport drivers and operators.

“Taos puso po ang aking pasasalamat sa inyo dahil ako ay pinagkatiwalaan niyong kayo ay aking pagsilbihan. Ang aking malinis at proven track record sa 38 years ko sa uniformed service ang tanging maihahandog ko sa inyo para madala ko ang inoyng araw-araw na laban sa buhay sa Senado. Ang laban niyo, laban ko,” Eleazar said.