The transport group PISTON condemned alleged harassment of its members and leaders by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in several areas of Metro Manila during its nationwide transport strike on Thursday, March 19.
“Sa bahagi ng Sucat sa Parañaque ay ngayon ay hina-harass ng kapulisan at kung ano-ano ang ginagawa ng ating mga kapulisan sa ating mga kasama sa hanapbuhay,” PISTON National President Mody Floranda said in an exclusive interview.
He added, “Kaya ito ay mariin nating kinokondena. Dapat ang pulis ay bantayan lamang, hindi harasin, dahil ‘yung isyu ng ating layunin, ‘yung isyu na bitbit natin ay ‘yung pagtanggal sa matataas na buwis sa produktong petrolyo, na kung saan hindi hiwalay ang mga kapulisan kaya’t nagdidismaya tayo sa ganitong aksyon ng PNP.”
Floranda said some drivers and leaders were reportedly being asked to leave their designated pick-up points while the strike was ongoing.
In a Facebook post, PISTON said that at 7:00 a.m., police from the PNP–Parañaque approached a group of drivers at a strike center in SEACOM, Parañaque, in an apparent attempt to "intimidate" them.
"Harassment at pagbabanta ang sagot ng kapulisan sa panawagan ng mga tsuper sa SEACOM Parañaque," PISTON said.
They added that participants were pressured to show permits and IDs, and a driver’s microphone was forcibly taken to prevent him from speaking. The police also threatened to return to the strike center with backup.
The PISTON president said the strike and protest began at 4 a.m. across 20 designated strike areas in the National Capital Region (NCR), with protesters demanding lower fuel prices amid rising costs driven by the ongoing crisis between the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Other sectors, including Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), expressed support for PISTON’s strike. KMU Chairperson Elmer "Ka Bong" Labog said the public can no longer cope with the soaring prices of goods and services due to the high price of fuel.
“Sinusuportahan din namin ang dahilan ng transport strike sa araw na ito na dapat ay ibaba ang presyo ng langis at produktong petrolyo sapagkat hindi na halos makaagapay ang mga driver natin at mga batayang sektor sa napakataas na bilihin at serbisyo ngayon sa ating bayan,” Labog said.
He also urged lawmakers to implement a higher national minimum wage.
“Nananawagan kami na dapat itaas ang sahod ng manggagawa sa harap ng pagtaas ng presyo ng langis dahil dito sa digmaan ni Trump sa Middle East laban sa Iran,” Labog added.
He also criticized oil companies for allegedly exploiting the surge in fuel prices.
SAHOD NG MGA MANGGAGAWA, DAPAT ITAAS
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) March 19, 2026
WATCH: Kabilang sa ipinapanawagan sa ikinasang tigil-pasada ng mga tsuper ang pagsasabatas ng mas mataas na national minimum wage.
Ayon sa labor leader na si Bong Labog ng Kilusang Mayo Uno, hindi na makaagapay ang publiko sa napakataas na… pic.twitter.com/BA1Rw6hIrG
