Transport group MANIBELA begins their transport strike in Manila, in time with PISTON's ongoing transport strike on November 22, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News 

MANILA — Transport group Manibela on Wednesday filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against top Transportation officials over alleged human rights violations related to the PUV modernization program.

Manibela, Piston to stage protests vs PUV modernization program on Jan. 16

Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena led the group in filing the complaint. He was accompanied by Homobono Adaza as their legal consultant, although another lawyer signed their complaint.

Respondents in this complaint include Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Teofilo Guadiz, Office of Transportation Cooperatives (OTC) chairman Andy Ortega and Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, among others.

Valbuena said the government violated their basic rights when the DOTr, LTFRB, OTC and SolGen insisted on implementing the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.

Manibela said the respondents did not observe due process and equal protection clause of Article II of the Constitution, depriving them of work and support for families.

Valbuena said the officials also violated the human rights of affected PUV drivers and operators.

“Maraming nilabag ang programa nitong mga opisyal ng DOTr, OTC, LTFRB at SolGen… Inabuso tayo, nilabag ang ating mga karapatan, dineprived ang ating mga kabuhayan,” Valbuena said.

According to Adaza, the government clearly violated section 3 of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

“The consolidation is in violation of the Constitution for several reasons, una- yung deprivation of life…Kung kukunan mo ng trabaho ang tao sa kanilang pamumuhay that is deprivation of life. Deprivation of liberty, bakit sila magsasabi na mag-consolidate? There is a freedom of association in this country, we have a choice bakit ang gobyerno ang magsasabi [to] consolidate? Mga diktador ba sila? Mga alipin lang sila, they are servants of the people, that’s the point,” according to Adaza.

He also cited the unfortunate fate the unconsolidated drivers and operators would suffer after the April 30 consolidation extension.

“Arestuhin daw after April 30 ang mga drivers, impound ang mga jeep. Confiscation yan of property ah, deprivation of property…klarong-klaro yan,” he added.

Valbuena is also hoping that the Supreme Court will decide on PISTON's petition for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on the implementation of the PUV modernization program before the April 30 consolidation deadline.

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“Dapat mas maagang nag-resolve ang Supreme Court, yun po ang panawagan natin para ho makita natin na talagang maraming nilabag ang batas na ‘to sa pamamagitan ng DOTr,” Valbuena said.

Other members of the group also joined Valbuena as they held a transport protest outside the Office of the Ombudsman to reiterate their call to the government to scrap the modernization program.

They also asked President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., to intervene and help the plight of the transport sector. 

Meanwhile, Bautista in a statement said they have yet to recieve a copy of the complaint affidavit but he assured the public that they would study the allegations and would respond accordingly.

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