DILG chief urged to go after mulcting cops

A group of jeepney drivers urged Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina yesterday to run after rogue policemen who are fleecing them of hard-earned money.

Romualdo Maranan, president of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEDJODAP) expressed the sentiments of the jeepney drivers in a letter to Lina yesterday.

In his letter, Maranan said tong (protection money) collection stopped after former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Panfilo Lacson ordered the arrest of unscrupulous policemen who were later dismissed after going through the legal process.

"Lacson’s absence gave these inept, corrupt and unscrupulous policemen a free hand to collect money left and right from the drivers," read Maranan’s letter. "When our driver refused, he would be charged with imaginary traffic violations like swerving and obstruction for picking passengers on prohibited areas."

Lina, who is also chairman of the National Police Commission, told reporters yesterday he had ordered PNP chief Deputy Director General Leandro Mendoza to arrest and charge rogue policemen who are caught collecting tong from jeepney drivers.

Meanwhile, members of the Philippine Confederation of Drivers Organizations–Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (PCDO-ACTO) has refused to undergo the mandatory drug tests before they can get their driver’s license.

Efren de Luna, PCDO-ACTO president, told reporters yesterday the Land Transportation Office (LTO) would be violating the constitutional rights of jeepney drivers if they are required to submit to a drug test.

"We won’t submit ourselves to drug testing unless its constitutionality is established by the court," he said. "We cannot be made to do something against our will."

De luna said the PCDO-ACTO will ask a court in Quezon City to stop the LTO from implementing as a requisite for getting a driver’s license the controversial drug test.

"The LTO has reimplemented the program on Feb. 1 without consulting us," he said. "This is deplorable. We’ll ask the court to issue a restraining order."

De Luna said lawmakers and other government officials must also undergo a drug test when getting their driver’s license in fairness to jeepney drivers, who are the only ones subject to the requirement.

"Why only us?" he asked. "With our meager income, it is prohibitive for us to abuse drugs, while our officials themselves have the money and influence to do this."

On the other hand, Maranan told reporters yesterday FEDJODAP will ask their members to go through the drug test on condition that the government would shoulder the expenses.

"The (P300 for drug testing) is too expensive for jeepney drivers," he said. "This amount is enough to feed a family with simple meals for two days. I just hope the government will not take this from us."– Cecille Suerte Felipe, Sheila Crisostomo