LTO stops rally jeepneys

MANILA, Philippines – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) apprehended yesterday drivers and operators of public utility vehicles going out of their designated routes to ferry rally participants.

LTO chief Alberto Suansing said traffic enforcers stopped the vehicles as part of their duties to go after traffic violators.

“It’s a routine job for traffic enforcers regardless if those on board were rally participants,” Suansing told The STAR.

He said drivers and operators have to first secure a permit from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board if they want to travel outside their designated routes to justify their trips.

He said LTO law enforcers have been apprehending out-of-line vehicles and if they stopped vehicles going to Ayala to participate in the interfaith rally, it was just a coincidence.

LTFRB chairman Thompson Lantion, for his part, said even private trucks and vans ferrying passengers going on the same direction were considered “colorum.”

A penalty of P 6,000 is slapped against operators of such vehicles.

To help commuters stranded during the rally and to prevent the proliferation of colorum vehicles, the LTFRB fielded buses in strategic areas in Metro Manila.

“We are offering free rides to the public so that commuters will not be stranded,” Lantion said yesterday.

In Mandaluyong City, traffic personnel briefly intercepted four passenger jeepneys loaded with protesters along Nueve de Pebrero Street.

Those inside the vehicles were carrying placards and banners and admitted they were on their way to join the interfaith rally in Makati City.

Upon learning of the incident, Mayor Benhur Abalos immediately ordered Luis Espinosa, head of the traffic and parking management office to allow the vehicles to proceed to their destination.

Checkpoints everywhere

In Pampanga, commuters going to Metro Manila yesterday had a hard time passing through the three tollways of the North Luzon expressway (NLEx).

Policemen from Mabalacat established their checkpoints near the tollway as early as 5 a.m. to monitor commuters carrying guns or weapons likely to join the big rally in Makati City, said Senior Superintendent Keith Ernald Singian, Pampanga provincial police director.

Singian said San Simon and San Fernando police personnel also established checkpoints along their respective tollways.

He said he ordered the establishment of checkpoints after receiving reports that communist terrorists might take advantage of the situation.

Police and motorcycle patrols were also deployed at strategic areas and vital installations to monitor terrorists, said Singian.

Some 450 Crowd Dispersal Management personnel from the Regional Mobile Group-3 (RMG3) were sent to Mendiola in Manila to augment the forces, said Chief Superintendent Errol T. Pan, Police Regional Office-3 (PRO3).

Pan said about 1,000 policemen were on standby for immediate deployment to Metro Manila in case of any eventuality.

Since Thursday morning, the entire police force in Central Luzon were on full-alert status following the expected mass actions of different anti-Arroyo groups. 

Checkpoints manned by combined military and police elements were also established along the national highway in Batangas, Tagaytay and Cavite.

Although the combined elements of law enforcers showed respect to commuters, still there was apprehension among the civilians who were not used to seeing such tight security on the streets. – Ric Sapnu