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 January 2024 in Diliman, Quezon City. LYN RILLON/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has filed charges against transport group Manibela and its chair Mar Valbuena for their alleged “disruptive behavior” during the two-day transport strike from April 15 to 26.
According to QCPD, the protest rally organized by Manibela “caused grave public inconvenience and disturbance,” prompting them to file charges against Valbuena, Regie Manlapig (Manibela president), and the owner of vehicles used during the protest, namely, Jasmine Bordalba Denition, and Pacifico Dasalla Martin Jr., among others.
“Led by Mario Valbuena, the Manibela Group mobilized more or less 70 PUJs (public utility jeepney) and approximately 600 participants who obstructed major thoroughfares such as Commonwealth Avenue, East Avenue, and Quezon Avenue,” the police said in a statement on Tuesday.
The QCPD said the group refused to cooperate and ignored their directives even after its operatives attempted to “engage in a dialogue.” It likewise revealed that the group was unable to secure a permit from the local government of Quezon City.
“In response, the QCPD filed charges against the Manibela Group, including three counts of Violation of Batas Pambansa 880 (Public Assembly Act of 1985), Violation of Article 155 of the Revised Penal Code (Alarm and Scandal), Violation of Article 151 of the RPC (Resistance and Disobedience), and Direct Assault Upon an Agent of Person in Authority,” police disclosed.
Meanwhile, the plate numbers of the PUJs reportedly used “to obstruct the main thoroughfares” were turned over to the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board and Land Transportation Office for appropriate administrative actions.
Sought for comment, Valbuena told INQUIRER.net that they have yet to receive copies of the complaint.
Contrary to claims from the police, the Manibela chair said they conducted their transport caravan and programs “peacefully” without causing any inconvenience or hurting anyone, adding that protesters dispersed orderly as stated in their “gentleman’s agreement.”
“Sa napag-usapang oras between Manibela and QCPD ay kusa po kaming nag disperse ng maayos at mapayapa kasi yan po ay gentleman’s agreement namin sa lahat po ng dinaanan naming programa,” Valbuena said in a Viber message.
(Following the time Manibela and QCPD agreed on, we conducted the programs and dispersed peacefully and orderly since we also discussed that in our gentleman’s agreement.)
“We just exercised our freedom of assembly and freedom of expression to air our grievances in a peaceful manner/protest,” he added.
Manibela and Piston conducted a series of transport strikes to protest against the government’s pronouncement that the Public Utility Vehicle franchise consolidation would no longer be extended.