CRIMINAL complaints were filed yesterday before the Office of the Ombudsman against transportation officials for allegedly railroading the implementation of the public utility vehicles (PUV) consolidation without adequate consultation with the affected sectors.
Named respondents by the Samahang Manibela, Mananakay, at Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon (Manibela) were Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista, Office of Transport Cooperatives (OTC) chairperson Ferdinand Ortega, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III, Board members Riza Marie Paches, Mercy Jane Paras Leynes, and Robert Peig; and Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra.
The transport group was represented by Manibela president Mario Valbuena Jr., who said the case is backed by jeepney drivers, owners, and operators as well as other public transport organizations in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.
The complainants assailed the issuance of LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2023-051 on December 14, 2023 which required operators and drivers of PUVs to consolidate with cooperatives and gave them only until December 31, 2023 to do so.
Valbuena challenged the order which threatened to revoke the jeepney’s franchises without due process even if the vehicle is registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
He added that the drivers and operators were told they would not be allowed to ply their routes or pick up passengers on the road and those who insisted would be arrested.
He stressed that neither the DOTr nor the LTFRB conducted any consultation with the PUV drivers and operators before the issuance of the directive.
Valbuena said the ultimate objective of the LTFRB move is to replace the “tried and tested” local jeepney in unfair preference for suppliers of Chinese-made vehicles.
He protested the issuance, saying it was a violation of their rights to pursue their livelihood to provide support for their families.
“Respondents by issuing this questioned circular violated Section 4, Article II of the Constitution by not observing the prime duty of government which is to serve and protect the people, instead they betrayed the people,” Manibela said.
The group said it does want the new imported vehicles because they last only for two to three years.
Gueverra was included among the respondents for allegedly defending the respondents.
‘The act of favoring alien suppliers of vehicles is unpatriotic especially since there are able and tested vehicle manufacturers (in the country),” the transport group said.
