Marcos sees civil unrest, urges Aquino to stop MRT-LRT fare hike

MANILA, Philippines - Fearing civil unrest, Sen. Bongbong Marcos said on Thursday that President Benigno Aquino III should suspend the fare increases in the Light Rail Transit and the Metro Rail Transit systems.

In a media forum, Marcos said there is now civil unrest due to the public's strong opposition to the fare hikes.

"Palagay ko andun na tayo eh, nagde-demonstrate na, nagrereklamo na, lumalabas na nag-file na ng kaso sa Supreme Court. So I think we're there. Nakikita na natin may civil unrest na, napunta na nga tayo dun," Marcos said.

The senator said the government's executive branch should listen to the people's grievances and that it's time for Aquino to step in.

"It's the prerogative of the executive to amend, to change, to postpone, or to suspend, any decision made by the executives," Marcos said.

"He is the single person who has the power to do it, and the people are asking him to do it, and he should do it," he added, referring to Aquino.

Malacañang, however, sees no civil unrest, saying the protests against the fare hikes are part of a democracy that the government respects.

"Wala naman tayong nakikitang significant na physical disturbances. Wala naman po tayong nakikitang pagkabalam ng pagbiyahe ng libo-libong gumagamit ng MRT service," Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a televised press briefing.

The Palace earlier stood firm on the fare hikes, saying they would lead to better service for the riding public.