Four transport leaders face charges over protest

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) filed criminal complaints Wednesday against four transport leaders and two members for direct assault and disobedience following a protest against the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

Police Lt. Col. Joery Puerto, head of the City Investigation and Detection Management Unit (CIDMU), said direct assault charges were filed with the City Prosecutor’s Office against Melchor Umangayon, a member of the Kabakod Negros Transport Coalition Incorporated (KNETCO), for allegedly throwing stones during the protest, which injured two police officers.

In addition to Umangayon, those charged with disobedience to a person in authority were Rudy Catedral, of Bacolod Alliance for Commuters Operators and Drivers (Bacod)-Negros; Lilian Sembrano, of KNETCO; Rodolfo Gardose, chairman, and Eric Bindoy, secretary-general of United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC) PISTON; and Shalimar Saleut, a member of Bacod MANIBELA, according to Puerto.

The five transport leaders were arrested and later released after posting bail of PHP3,000 each, approximately nine hours after being detained at Police Station 2.

Umangayon, however, remains in custody after failing to post the PHP36,000 bail for direct assault charges.

Puerto also stated that the four transport leaders would face additional charges for violating Batas Pambansa (BP) Blg. 880, or the Public Assembly Act of 1985, which ensures the right to peaceful assembly.

The case is under preliminary investigation, requiring additional documentation.

 

PROTEST DETAILS

The protest took place in front of L’Fisher Hotel on Wednesday, with transport groups demanding that officials from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) address their concerns about the PUVMP.

Transport leaders argued they had not been invited to the event, which they believed was related to the PUVMP.

They claimed it was their right to defend the livelihood of drivers. However, the event inside the hotel was a Philippine commercial vehicle show featuring various exhibitors.

Tensions escalated when protesters refused to disperse, despite negotiations, as they did not have a permit to rally on one of the city’s major thoroughfares.

The BCPO Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) team formed a barricade in front of the hotel to prevent protesters from approaching the venue.

As demonstrators attempted to break through the police line, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Bacolod deployed a water cannon to disperse them, as they were disrupting traffic on Lacson Street.

The situation worsened when some protesters reportedly threw stones, injuring two police officers. This led to the arrest of the four transport leaders and two members.

The standoff lasted about four hours, with the crowd dispersing by noon.

Lt. Col. Puerto emphasized that while protesters are welcome to express their grievances, they must do so in the proper venue and with a permit.

He suggested that the public plaza, considered a freedom park, would be a more appropriate location for protests.

“We exercised maximum tolerance and gave them numerous opportunities to disperse peacefully. This should be a lesson for them,” Puerto said.