MANILA — Transport group Piston condemned the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for impounding several public utility vehicles (PUVs) meant to ferry participants to the November 30 anti-corruption rallies, calling the move a “deliberate sabotage” of the people’s constitutional right to assemble.

“Marrin naming kinukundena ang mga aksyong ito ng LTO at ng gobyerno ni Marcos Jr. Imbis na pakinggan ang hinaing ng taumbayan, tahasan nilang hinarangan, hinuli, at inimpound ang mga jeepeney at sasakyan sa tangkang pilayin ang mobilisasyon noong November 30,” Piston national president Mody Floranda said.

“Hindi makatarungang parusahan ang taumbayang nagngangalit sa garapalang korapsyon sa bansa. Bawat pisong ninanakaw ng mga korakot na opisyales ay pisong ninanakaw mula sa pampublikong serbisyo. Tama lang at makatarungan ang mag-protesta,” he added.

Authorities reportedly stopped and impounded vehicles across several locations:

• Novaliches (bound for Luneta): four jeepneys, one L300
• Along EDSA: one van
• Rizal (bound for Luneta): three jeepneys
• Cavite (bound for Luneta): four jeepneys
• Lipa (bound for EDSA): seven vans

The vehicles have been held for nearly a week on “colorum” charges, which Piston described as a “flimsy excuse” to harass drivers and operators supporting the anti-corruption movement. Drivers face fines ranging from P12,000 for jeepneys to as high as P200,000 for vans and L300s.

“Malinaw na pagnanakaw at panggigipit ito sa mahihirap,” Floranda said. “Hindi krimen ang paglaban sa korapsyon. Ang tunay na krimen ay ang paggamit sa kapangyarihan at mga batas-trapiko para pagnakawan at busalan ang mamamayan.”

Piston urged the immediate release of the impounded vehicles and vowed to continue resisting measures it called restrictive and unjust.

“Agaran dapat i-release ng LTO ang mga sasakyan. Patuloy nating lalabanan ang korapsyon at ipagtatanggol ang karapatan sa malayang pagkilos,” Floranda added.