Video by Tetch Torres-Tupas/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Party-list group Bayan Muna on Friday reiterated its call to the Supreme Court to stop the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) fare hike.
In an urgent manifestation, Bayan Muna Representatives Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate together with copetitioners Antonio Cruz, Yvonne Luna and Carl Ala urged the high court to issue a temporary restraining order or a status quo ante order against the fare increase while the petitions questioning its legality is pending.
The group, in their manifestation, insisted that the order issued by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) which approved the fare increase was illegal and that the DOTC had no jurisdiction to approve such an increase.
“Considering that an Order issued without authority or jurisdiction is clearly void, herein Petition deserves at least a temporary restraining order or status quo ante order should this Honorable Court refrain from immediately voiding the assailed DOTC order,” the petitioners said.
The petitioners told the high court that DOTC Undersecretary Jose Lotilla also admitted that no hearings were conducted prior to the approval of the fare hike and further admitted that they do not even have rules of procedure to be followed for public hearings or consultations.
“Any order issued by a tribunal or agency which had no power, authority or jurisdiction to issue said order is void,” the petitioners stated in their manifestation.
“Furthermore, any imposition of a burden on the public such as increase of taxi, bus or jeepney fares requires that the public be accorded their due process rights of notice and hearing where they can effectively oppose said fare increase or any other imposition of burden on the public,” the petitioners said.
Aside from Bayan Muna and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, former Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco Jr. and the United Filipino Consumers and Commuters Inc. also filed separate petitions against the train fare hike.