President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday threatened to use the might of the police and military against the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) members who will defy the government’s plan to modernize the jeepney transport sector.
“Itong Piston, hindi raw sila magsunod. Ganito raw, sige subukan natin. I’m preparing the armed forces and police to buy rubber bullets, prepare for truncheons and hihilain ko talaga kayo,” Duterte said in a speech in Malacañang.
(This group Piston they said they will not abide. It’s like this, ok let’s try. I’m preparing the armed forces and police to buy rubber bullets, prepare for truncheons and I will drag you.)
“I don’t care if we go into turmoil. That is what I like, we go best in a turmoil. Talagang guguyurin ko mga sasakyan ninyo. The law is the law. Sabi nga ninyo, Duterte, follow the law,” he added.
(I will scrape your vehicle. You once said: Duterte follow the law.)
The President had earlier said he was giving drivers and operators until December 2017 to modernize their jeepneys.
Piston is protesting the PUV modernization program aimed at phasing out old PUVs, while the government plans to replace the jeepneys with “eco-friendly” PUVs. /jpv
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