PNP: No adverse incident during transport protest

FILE PHOTO: Jeepney drivers tie a “NO to PUV Phaseout” poster on one of several jeepneys during one of the transport protests led by Manibela in Diliman, Quezon City. LYN RILLON/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it did not receive any adverse report during the protest of transport groups Manibela and Piston.

“Generally peaceful naman po [‘yung protest],” PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo told INQUIRER.net in a Viber message on Wednesday.

(The protest was generally peaceful.)

Manibela and Piston conducted the protest to air their opposition to the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization plan.

READ: PNP denies blocking PUV drivers planning to join transport protest

Earlier, Fajardo denied reports that the PNP blocked PUV drivers who wanted to join the demonstration, explaining that they only put up roadblocks in certain areas in Bacoor, Cavite, and Malolos, Bulacan, as part of efforts to help the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in their campaign against illegal and out-of-line vehicles.

She also said that some PUV drivers were apprehended because they could not show certain documents required by the LTO.

READ: PNP deploys over 3,000 cops for transport protest

Meanwhile, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said no untoward incident was reported during the transport protest in the locality, which ended around 1:50 a.m. on Wednesday.

QCPD said teams were deployed to various points in the city to ensure public safety and smooth traffic flow while the protest was ongoing.

READ: Piston to join Manibela’s transport protest vs franchise consolidation

Various transport groups have been conducting transport strikes and demonstrations since last year to protest the PUV modernization program, asserting that the government scheme would only burden PUV drivers and operators.