PNP to offer free rides to commuters in anticipation of transport strike Monday

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police will be offering free rides to commuters who will be stranded by the transport strike set Monday, a spokesman said Friday.

Aside from the PNP’s “Libreng Sakay [Free Ride]” program, all police regional directors were asked to initiate a dialogue with leaders of the protesting transport groups to ensure peaceful and orderly mass actions, said Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr.

The regional directors were also directed to organize a civil disturbance management contingent for possible deployment and ensure maximum deployment of police personnel to prevent possible breakdown of peace and order and in any case of eventuality, Cruz said.

The Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) will lead a nationwide protest on Monday against the unabated increase in oil prices.

Piston said it was dismayed with President Benigno Aquino III’s dialogue with transport groups on Wednesday.