Metro cops brace for PUJ strike, rallies

Metro police chief Director Vidal Querol said yesterday he would place the 17,000-strong National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on full alert stating at 6 p.m. today to deal with a coordinated transport strike and political rally in Metro Manila tomorrow.

He directed his five district directors and 37 station commanders yesterday to initiate dialogues with transport group leaders and rally organizers for a peaceful and orderly staging of protest activities.

He also scheduled a commander’s meeting for 4 p.m. today at the NCRPO satellite office in Kamuning, Quezon City to evaluate reports from the field and institute measures to prevent violent confrontations between anti-riot policemen and striking drivers and rallyists.

"I want to hear the results of the dialogue conducted by police officials with transport and rally leaders to assess the situation and come up with measures for tomorrow’s activities to be peaceful and orderly," Querol said.

Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., NCRPO intelligence chief, said the transport strike will be led by the militant Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytors Nationwide (PISTON).

Mar Garvida of PISTON had vowed to cripple several routes in Metro Manila, namely: Alabang, in Muntinlupa City; Port Area and Aduana in Manila; Cubao and Novaliches in Quezon City; Kalayaan in Makati City; Baclaran in Parañaque City, Meralco and Pasig proper; Monumento in Caloocan City, and the main and secondary roads of the Camanava area.

Rojas said the rally will be initiated by anti-Arroyo forces, including the newly formed Solidarity Movement, Baklasin si Gloria, and the Gloria Step Down Movement.

Elmer Labog of Kilusang Mayo Uno said workers will either leave work or apply for mass leaves to join the rally tomorrow.

Rojas said among the grievances of the striking drivers is the excessive price of fuel. The rallyists, on the other hand, are seeking the ouster of President Arroyo.

The NCRPO chief said at least 2,000 uniformed and plainclothes policemen, including Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams, will be fielded in the streets early tomorrow to prevent striking drivers from coercing and harassing those who choose to ply their routes.

"We will be concentrating on areas where strikers and policemen clashed in the past to prevent violence," he said.

Querol said Obet Martin of Pasang Masda vowed to continue plying their routes and asked the police to protect their members.

The Metro police chief warned strikers against blocking roads or burning tires as his men would not hesitate to arrest them.

Querol has also coordinated with the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and other government agencies for the fielding of trucks and buses to ferry stranded passengers to their destination.

"We expect the striking drivers to bring passengers to work in the morning and stop plying their routes in the afternoon. We must prepare for this kind of ploy," he said.

For the rallyists, Querol asked them to secure a mayor’s permit.

He said the number of anti-riot policemen to be developed would depend on the outcome of the commander’s meeting today.

"We will exercise maximum tolerance just like in the past rallies. But we are ever ready to enforce the law should the need arise," Querol said.