MMDA mulls legal action vs MANIBELA protesters

Legal actions are being considered against members of transport group MANIBELA after traffic enforcers were allegedly hurt during their protest action, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Thursday.

In a press conference, MMDA chairperson Romando Artes said the actions of the protesters may be considered as assault on a person of authority.

“Kino-consider natin yung legal actions kasi nga kung titignan mo, assault sa person in authority dahil nagpapatupad lang naman sila ng kanilang tungkulin na i-ayos yung ating lansangan,” Artes said.

(We are considering legal actions, if you look at it as an assault on a person in authority, because they were just carrying out their duty to fix our streets.)

“At ang pananakit na ganiyan ay may kaukulang parusa sa ating batas. Pero pinag-aaralan namin yung legal actions natin,” he added.

(And such assault has corresponding punishment under our law. But we are studying our legal actions.)

Artes said the MMDA is studying possible legal moves as the agency is avoiding to give publicity to the group. 

×

Need a wellness break? Sign up for The Boost!

Stay up-to-date with the latest health and wellness reads.

Please enter a valid email address

Sign Up

Your email is safe with us

“Iniiwasan po siguro natin na mabigyan pa sila ng airtime dahil yun po ang kanilang hinahabol e. So hindi namin yung ibibigay sa kanila definitely,” he said.

(We're avoiding giving them airtime because that's what they're after. So we're definitely not going to give it to them.)

Asked about the matter, MANIBELA chairperson Mar Valbuena considered the MMDA move as harassment. 

“Nasa kanila po yan. Kapag nasa kapangyarihan abusado. Kapag nasa kapangyarihan may legal na action kapag napapahiya. Isa itong panggigipit at pagyurak sa mga karapatan ng mga tsuper at operators!” Valbuena told GMA News Online in a message.

(That's up to them. When in power, they are abusive. When in power, they take legal action when they are embarrassed. This is harassment and trampling on the rights of drivers and operators!)

On Monday, MANIBELA staged its three-day transport strike as a protest in relation to the public utility vehicle modernization program. 

The group on Wednesday assembled in front of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) office in San Juan City to stage a protest.

MMDA traffic enforcers issued tickets to 15 public utility jeepneys from MANIBELA for blocking a portion of Connecticut Street corner EDSA, which led to the tension between the two groups. —RF, GMA Integrated News