This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 32, September 18-24, 2005
Southern Tagalog
Transport Groups Press for Arroyo’s Ouster
Transport groups were not only
able to paralyze public transportation in Southern Tagalog on Sept. 12 but also
used the nationwide strike to speak to commuters and reporters about the high
oil prices, the expanded value added tax (E-VAT) and a “fake president.”
By Dennis Espada Transport groups were not
only able to paralyze public transportation in Southern Tagalog on Sept. 12 but
also used the nationwide strike to speak to commuters and reporters about the
high oil prices, the expanded value added tax (E-VAT) and a “fake president.” Leaders of the Southern
Tagalog Region Transport Sector Organization (STARTER) said the one-day strike
crippled public transport in at least four provinces in the region: Laguna (95
percent), Batangas (75 percent), Rizal (70 percent) and Cavite (65 percent). As the strike was ongoing,
tricycle drivers in Cabuyao town launched a protest caravan causing many factory
workers and employees unable to report for work at the Science Park. Pickets
were also held at various highly-populated areas, it was learned. Stranded commuters walked
by the highways while others took their ride in rented vehicles, paying thrice
the regular fare. Some drivers, however,
continued plying their routes saying they cannot afford to lose a day's income. Oil price
hikes Why do gasoline prices --
increased by the oil companies at least 15 times this year - remain so high?
Impeachment The nationwide transport
strike was held a week after the House of Representatives, which is dominated by
allies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, voted 158-51 with six abstentions
supporting the justice committee report aborting the sole legal process of
impeaching the president for electoral fraud, corruption, human rights
violations and other crimes. The transport strike,
organizers said, thus also carried a political statement denouncing the vote and
signaled the start of street protests aimed at unseating the president –
considered by many Filipinos as illegitimate – from her office. On Sept. 16, the militant
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New Nationalist Alliance) in Southern
Tagalog and allied groups staged a rally at the Don Chino Roces Bridge, Mendiola
in Manila, calling for Macapagal-Arroyo’s ouster. © 2005 Bulatlat
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Bulatlat
Rolando Mingo, STARTER secretary-general Rolando Mingo, told Bulatlat
that aside from dictated prices, the deregulated oil industry also allows the
Big 3 oil companies, Shell, Caltex and Petron, to engage in financial
speculations on the price and supply at the world market.
"Unless the Oil Deregulation Law is scrapped and the industry is nationalized,
this unjust suffering (of the people) will continue," he said.
The VAT law, whose expanded coverage includes oil and electricity, among others,
also calls for an increase of from 10 to 12 percent in the VAT rate starting
this year.
With the looming implementation of the E-VAT following the Supreme Court’s
recent ruling upholding its constitutionality, the consumers would have to carry
the added burden even as majority of them continue to wallow in poverty.
At the rally, Arman Albarillo of Bayan-ST predicted that the peaceful protests
"will be like waves” that would eventually topple the president.
Pura Calleja, lawyer and spokesperson of Laguna Laban Kay Gloria (Laglag or
Laguna Against Gloria), said now is the time to double efforts to organize and
mobilize the public toward unseating the president and establish a transition
council.
"We must ensure that the marginalized sectors are well-represented in the
council," Calleja said, adding that the country's outstanding leaders have long
shunned elections because they are disgusted with the system. Bulatlat