The Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON, or Unity of Drivers’ and Operators’ Associations Nationwide) relaunched a broad transport strike and people’s protest against war and poverty on April 21 in various parts nationwide.
According to the group, the Marcos regime’s insensitive and inutile response to the country’s crisis is killing the people.
“One rider has already died in the long and prolonged queue for aid. His life is literally the price for the corrupt government’s token dole-outs,” the group explained.
“We are being killed by hunger. Our livelihoods are being massacred. We are driven out of our homes. We are deprived of a living wage. The youth are being stripped of a future,” the group added.
It said the Marcos regime defends the profits of the oil cartel of Shell, Caltex, and Petron while it continues to plunder through piled-up taxes on the people.
They said the people must continue to hold the inutile, insensitive, and puppet Marcos regime accountable for its debt in lives and livelihoods. The group said the push for systemic change must be intensified.
Puppet regime
Meanwhile, protesters also denounced the regime’s puppetry to US imperialism. They pointed out that Marcos allows the US to push its plan to build a 1,600-hectare war-oriented economic zone, aside from ammunition factories and refuelling stations for its warships in the Philippines.
The US and Israel continue their wars and massacres in Iran, Palestine, and Lebanon, while those killed in their mad war now reach the Philippines. The Marcos regime is complicit in Trump and Netanyahu’s massacres and war.
Protest centers
In Metro Manila, protest centers were set up in Pasig City; in Philcoa in Quezon City, Cubao-Quiapo JODA terminal, and along Anonas Avenue in Quezon City.
The group paralyzed 70% of the Novaliches-Blumentritt route, and 70% of the Anonas–Project 2-3 route.
The newly formed CAJODAP-PISTON (Calumpit JODA PISTON) in Bulacan successfully staged a strike and set up its strike center. They paralyzed 80% of trips in the city, particularly along the Malolos-San Fernando, Calumpit-Meycauayan, and Calumpit-Pulilan routes.
Rizal drivers and operators set up a strike center at Junction.
In Iloilo City, the group set up strike centers at Tagbak Terminal, Ungka ITGSI Terminal, UPV Infante Flyover, in front of Mandurriao Elementary School, and at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.
The group launched its third transport strike in Cebu City. In the morning, they protested along P. Del Rosario, Mabolo, Labangon, and Mabolo in Cebu City; in Lapu-Lapu City; in Cabancalan in Mandaue City; and in Consolacion. They then held an afternoon program in Metro Colon in Cebu City.
The group shut down the entire Alabang City Terminal, paralyzing 100% of the trips.
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