The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) condemns the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for impounding six vehicles that were transporting workers who were on their way to Luneta in time for this year’s Bonifacio Day protest. The seizure of five jeepneys and one L300 van is a form of harassment against the workers and drivers who wanted to join the mass protests against government corruption.

On November 30, at around 9:00 in the morning, the six vehicles, most of which were driven by members of the Novaliches-Blumentritt Drivers Association (NOBLUDA), an affiliate of progressive transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON), were halted by elements of the LTO – National Capital Region near the Balintawak Ayala Mall along Andres Bonifacio Avenue.

The vehicles, which were carrying 99 passengers, mostly workers belonging to the Samahan ng mga Manggagawa at Kristyanong Pamayanan (SMKP) who were about to join the anti-corruption protest, were brought to the LTO central office in Quezon City.

The workers were forced to walk a long distance to ride public transportation, carrying with them their food, water and other belongings. Instead of saving up on transportation costs, they had to shell out payment for fares on top of their rent for the impounded jeepneys and vans.

The impounding of the six vehicles is not a traffic or a regulatory matter. It is a case of harassment of the drivers and their passengers, workers who only wish to add their voices to the protests against government corruption. It is a violation of the workers’ and the drivers’ right to freedom of assembly and expression.

It is simply despicable that instead of arresting and jailing the corrupt government officials and contractors involved in the anomalous flood control projects, the Ferdinand Marcos Jr government is curtailing the rights of workers and drivers who are justified in being angry and joining protests. Instead of speeding up the accountability processes against the corrupt, the Marcos Jr government is repressing ordinary workers and Filipinos demanding accountability.

The impounding of the vehicles and other repressive measures could only highlight the Marcos Jr government’s fear of the protestors. It emphasizes its guilt in relation to corruption allegations and its increasing defensiveness in relation to mounting pressures for accountability.

We demand that the vehicles be released immediately, without any penalty for the drivers and operators. This is the least that the government can do to provide redress for its repression of the jeepney and van drivers and the workers who wanted to join the anti-corruption protests.