PNP: Communists behind transport strike today

Expect red flags to fly today.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) accused the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF) of masterminding today's transport strike which threatens to paralyze major routes in Metro Manila and key cities across the country.

This developed as President Estrada issued a last-ditch appeal to leaders of transport groups, saying oil prices will soon go down due to a decision of oil-exporting countries to increase production.

Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome, PNP spokesman, said they received information that the CPP-NDF and its armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA), are behind the protest move.

He noted that striking groups have been "infiltrated" by CPP-NDF "party cells" who have been pushing for a strike since last month.

Bartolome said the 115,000 policemen all over the country have been on red alert since Monday in anticipation of possible rebel attacks on police and military targets.

The communist rebels marked the 31st founding anniversary of their Maoist-inspired rebellion yesterday without launching any attack. But Bartolome said NPA guerrillas or those from a breakaway group, the Alex Boncayao Brigade-Revolutionary Proletariat Army, may take advantage of today's tense situation.

He said that as a precautionary measure, the National Capital Region Police Office is fielding 6,000 policemen in the metropolis. He said, however, that these law enforcers will observe "maximum tolerance" and will try to avoid making arrests.

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will be fielding 50 trucks and some 500 buses for commuters who may get stranded by today's strike.

All government hospitals will also be on alert to respond to any emergencies.

Transport groups led by the Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) announced that they would "paralyze" major routes in Metro Manila and other urban centers in the country today to demand a rollback in fuel prices.

The strike will be joined by the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations of the Philippines, the Philippine Taxi Operators Association, and groups of tricycle drivers and laborers.

"We will paralyze Metro Manila and key cities across the country," vowed Medardo Roda, head of Piston.

The left-leaning group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) is also joining the protest action.

Teddy Casiño, Bayan secretary general, said there have been moves to derail the protest actions. Among these, he said, were the killing of a Piston leader in Caloocan City yesterday, the alleged order of a Cotabato official to use water cannons against protesters, and the spreading of rumors in Central Luzon that the strike has been moved to Friday.

"There is no stopping tomorrow's (today's) protests. Attempts to sabotage the mass actions will only boomerang on the perpetrators because they will be seen for what they really are -- partners and defenders of President Estrada, the oil cartel and big business," he said.

Church groups, too, have thrown their support to the protests.

The Promotion of Church People's Response (PCPR) said today's strike will signal the downfall of the Estrada administration.

"The fact is the massive protests and transport strike are the physical, actual and objective manifestation of the negative 13 rating of Mr. Estrada and (it showed) the disappointment of the masses is still growing," said Robert de Castro, PCPR secretary general.

The PCPR will be fielding priests, nuns and seminarians in today's rallies and it is expecting participation also from Protestants and other church groups.

The President appealed to the protesters not to push through with the strike, saying it would be unfair to blame his government for the recent increases in oil prices.

"Not even the President of the United States can do anything to stop these increases," he said, pointing out that the deregulation of the local oil industry has rendered him powerless against oil price hikes.

"I am doing everything to lower fuel prices. But this is really beyond my power," he added.

Local fuel prices rose by another 80 centavos this month after world crude prices soared from $10 to $26 a barrel because of production cuts.

However, world prices are expected to take a dip this month in the wake of reports that members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries were poised to increase their production quotas.

The President said he is hoping local prices would follow suit.

"This is good news. This will certainly bring down oil prices," he said.

Those behind the protests, though, believe things will be peaceful.

The militant Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), which is among those leading today's event, assured that it will try to prevent coercive and violent actions on the part of the strikers.

"Through peaceful means, we will persuade everybody to participate in the protest," KMU spokesperson Ina Silverio said.

The KMU, which is composed of mostly organized labor groups, will mount a demonstration starting at Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City and in Mendiola, a block from the presidential palace.

The demonstration will complement Piston's strike in major areas such as Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Quezon City, and the southern Metro Manila.

Protest actions will also be held in Baguio City, Pampanga, Tarlac, Bataan, Bulacan, Cavite, Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Dipolog, and Davao.

KMU chairman Crispin Beltran said the protest actions will highlight the abuses of the country's three biggest oil companies, namely Petron, Shell and Caltex, which have increased their prices allegedly to recoup massive losses.

"Their justification for oil price increases is a mere excuse for their insatiable greed," Beltran said, adding that the demonstration will also push for an increase in labor's wages.

"If the government insists on allowing the oil cartel to jack up their prices on a monthly basis, then the working people have the right to insist on wage increases as often as there are oil price hikes," he said. -- With reports from Marichu Villanueva, Rommel Bagares, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Sandy Araneta, Sheila Crisostomo, Mayen Jaymalin, Marvin Sy, Gina Tabonares, Efren Danao, Edith Regalado, Ric Sapnu, Jose Aravilla