LOOK: Star Wars-themed protest against MRT and LRT rate hikes

 

Waving posters that spelled out "Commuters Strike Back" and "Return of the Old Rates", Stormtroopers and Darth Vaders took over the GMA-Kamuning MRT station on Thursday morning.

 

Members of Akbayan Youth, led by Chairperson Rafaela David, conducted a Star Wars-themed protest to press their stand against the recently implemented LRT and MRT fare hike.

 

"I've ridden LRT 1 and LRT 2 most of my life, so this is really an issue that's close to my heart," shared David. "Ramdam na ramdam ko talaga yung mahal na presyo kasi nga I use the train almost everyday."

 

In what seems to be a strange move, the group opted to don masks of Stormtroopers and Darth Vader — characters that belonged to the opposition in the movie series. 

 

When asked why they didn't dress like Jedi Knights, who fought against the dark side of the Force, David stated simply, "Gusto namin na yung government yung maging Jedis."

 

David stressed that they are not likening President Aquino and the government to the Emperor and the Siths. What they are referring to as the "dark side of the Force" is the injustice that commuters are currently experiencing due to the fare hike. 

 

"We believe transportation is a basic service that must be accessible to all especially the poor and the marginalized," said David. "We fight against the hike because it further burdens our already struggling workers, the youth and other marginalized sectors."

 

The youth groups had sent a letter of petition to the Office of the President regarding this matter two days prior. They also included pro-youth solutions to transportation in the petition.

 

Proposals included discounts for wage earners and marginalized groups, adjustments of the Cost of Living Allowance by P13 to incorporate the added transportation cost, provision of other transport benefits such as corporate sponsored transport services, among others. — JST, GMA News