A transport leader asked the government on Monday to not label jeepney strikes and protests as “Red October,” saying these are legitimate expressions of the sentiments of public utility drivers.

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George San Mateo, president of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide, made the appeal after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) issued a joint statement that they would not tolerate any “Red October” strike that might happen within the month.

READ: Jeepney drivers warned against joining transport strike

“‘Yong DOTr, wag tatatakan na Red October ‘yung mga protesta ng transport sector kasi dine-demonize nila yung pagkilos ng mga driver,” San Mateo said this during the hearing of Senate committee on public services on Monday.

“Ano mang maganap na protesta ng transport, whether sa issue na jeepney phaseout o sa panawagan na ibasura ‘yung excise tax sa langis sa Train law at yung VAT (value added tax sa langis ay wag tatatakan na [Red October] dahil ‘yun ay legitimate na expression ng sentiments ng taong bayan at bahagi yun ng Konstitusyon natin,” he added. /cbb

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