Piston leader belittles arrest, vows to fight on

George San Mateo, Piston president PHOTO/Noy Morcoso, INQUIRER.net

The conviction and hopes of George San Mateo, leader of Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston), remained unshaken despite his arrest on Tuesday afternoon.

“Masaya ako dahil tuloy tayo sa pagkilos at paglaban,” San Mateo told reporters after he was arrested and brought back to the Quezon City metropolitan trial court branch 43 to post his bail.

(I’m glad that our fight can still go on.)

Asked if his earlier arrest triggered fears, the progressive leader said: “Mas kinatatakutan ko pa na mawalan ng kabuhayan ang mga drayber at opereytor.”

(I’m more afraid on seeing the livelihood of drivers and operators taken away.)

Piston, he said, would still continue its indignation rallies against the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) public utility vehicles’ modernization program, which the group said would inevitably result in jeepney phase-out.

At around 1:00 p.m., San Mateo was arrested by elements of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) at the QC Hall of Justice even before he was able to enter the building.

READ: QC police arrest transport group leader San Mateo

He was supposed to post bail at the QC metropolitan trial court branch 43 after the court ordered his arrest for violating Section 20 of the Commonwealth Act No. 146 or the Public Service Act in relation to the transport strikes he led earlier this year.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board filed this case against him.

San Mateo said the arrest was just for show to threaten other drivers and the public.

“Gusto nila i-showcase ako para matakot ang taumbayan kaya ako naman nagpakita ng defiance para makita ng mga tao,” he said.

“Kaya nila ginagawa ’to para matakot tayo pero kabaligtaran, dapat nating gawin dahil yung gobyerno natin walang kwenta,” he added.

Right after the arrest, he was brought to the QCPD station 10 where his mugshots were taken.

Following this, he was brought back to the QC hall of justice to post his bail.

As of writing, the judge of MTC branch 43 has yet to arrive at the court to sign his bail and officially order his release. /ac