Piston head arrested, freed after posting bail

Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) National President George San Mateo yesterday posted a P4,000-bail before a Quezon City court for leading a nationwide transport strike which was allegedly in violation of Commonwealth Act No. 146 or the Public Service Act.

Before this, the city’s police operatives arrested San Mateo in front of the Quezon City Hall of Justice that initially prevented him from posting bail for his temporary liberty.

San Mateo was then brought to the QCPD station 10 for booking only to be brought back to the Hall of Justice where he was eventually able to post bail.

Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 43 Judge Don Ace Mariano Alagar found probable cause to issue the order for violation of Section 20 (k) of the Public Service Act.

On December 4 and 5, PISTON suspended its two-day nationwide transport strike presumably to heed the call of Senator Grace Poe to just air their grievances in the Senate committee on public services hearing tomorrow.

However, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) board member and spokesperson Atty. Aileen Lizada alleged that PISTON had reneged on its earlier declaration of cancelling the twoday transport strike when it proceeded with protest activities it labeled as as a transport caravan.

San Mateo had earlier condemned what he branded as "trumped-up" charges hurled against him, and the supposed "crackdown" against jeepney drivers and operators.

Earlier, Assistant Prosecutor Marvelous Madamba also charged San Mateo with violation of Section 20 (k) of Commonwealth Act No. 146 with bail recommendation of P4,000.

LTFRB reiterated the prohibition on the conduct of a transport strike led by operators of public utility vehicles on February 25 after they learned that PISTON, and Stop and Go Transport Coalition were planning to conduct a follow-up protest to their February 6 nationwide transport strike.

Lawyer Carl Sha Jeremimah Marbella of the LTFRB legal division alleged that despite the said prohibition, San Mateo still "made a media statement that his group will pursue the transport strike on February 27, which they pursued and resulted to a nationwide 'Tigil Pasada' of public utility jeepneys.