Some transport leaders using fare hike petition to get gov’t bribe

Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno condemned today some transport leaders for using a petition for a P2.00 fare hike to put pressure on the Aquino government to release the “bribe money” which the latter pledged to them.

KMU said Zenaida “Zeny” Maranan of Fejodap and Efren de Luna of Acto are merely using the fare hike petition filed before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to pressure the government to release some P30 million to each transport leader.

The labor center said the amount, which was slated to be released on the pretext of converting the diesel engines of some 100 jeepneys per transport leader into LPG engines, is the government’s bribe to the leaders for the latter’s withdrawal from the nationwide transport strike last Sept. 19.

Maranan and De Luna are calling on Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino to fulfill the “promises” made by the government to the transport sector.

“They’re at it again. These transport leaders are again capitalizing on jeepney drivers’ woes for their personal gain,” said Lito Ustarez, KMU vice-chairperson.

“They are trying to look militant in fighting for the transport sector to put pressure on the government in order to get their bribe money. They are not really fighting for the transport sector,” he added.

KMU said converting jeepney engines, which at present run on diesel, into LPG-friendly ones will not solve jeepney drivers’ problems with the soaring prices of petroleum products.

“Jeepney drivers will still be buying LPG from the oil cartel which controls the price of diesel. As long as there is monopoly in the oil industry and as long as the government connives with the monopoly by maintaining deregulation, there will be no relief for jeepney drivers in shifting from diesel to LPG,” said Ustarez.

“Under the Marcos dictatorship, jeepney engines, which ran on gasoline, were converted into diesel-consuming ones. The idea then is similar to the mistaken idea being peddled by these transport leaders now: that jeepney drivers can save on fuel cost by using another product being peddled by the oil cartel,” he added.

KMU called on the members and local leaders of Fejodap and Acto to leave Maranan and De Luna behind.

“We are calling on the members and local leaders of Fejodap and Acto to leave their bankrupt and corrupt leadership behind. Maranan and De Luna are only using their members for their personal gain,” Ustarez said.