Metro police on full alert for transport strike

The 17,000-strong National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) will be on a full alert today amid threats by various transport groups to stage a transport strike to protest the recent oil price increase.

But as of late last night, Metro police chief Deputy Director General Avelino Razon Jr. was still conducting a dialogue with the transport groups‘ leaders to avert the planned strike.

"There are those who pledged not to join the transport strike while others claimed they will consult their national leaders first," said Razon. "But just the same, I ordered a heightened alert status should they decide to push through with their plan."

The transport strike was arrived at after oil companies implemented a 50-centavo increase in prices of oil products last week.

Raul Concepcion, chairman of the Consumer and Oil Price Watch (COPW), also revealed that oil refiners Petron Corp. and Pilipinas Shell are set to raise prices of diesel fuel by P2.24 per liter and gasoline by P1.45 this week.

If another oil price hike is implemented, the transport groups claim that their daily earnings would be greatly reduced and would be barely enough to support their family.

According to Razon, intelligence agents of the five police districts in Metro Manila are closely monitoring transport groups in their respective areas so they could react accordingly. He appealed for sobriety as militant and left-leaning groups might take advantage of the situation.

Razon also called on the transport groups to police their ranks so that no untoward incident would occur.

Transport leaders claimed they will ferry passengers to their destinations in this morning but would stop plying their route in the afternoon.

PNP spokesperson Senior Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil warned drivers against harassing or forcing fellow drivers to join the protest action.

"Our main concern is the safety of all commuters and drivers. We will observe maximum tolerance provided the strikers will not violate any law or harm anyone," he added. — With Cecille Suerte Felipe