Transport group cries ‘harassment’ amid strike
A labor rights group on Friday alleged police harassment and surveillance during the first day of a transport strike staged by jeepney drivers and their supporters across Metro Manila.
The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) said police officers in civilian clothes were deployed in several protest sites on Thursday, where they allegedly took photos and videos of demonstrators, either openly or covertly.
“The behavior of the police and the government towards jeepney drivers and their supporters, mostly poor Filipinos, was disturbing,” said CTUHR executive director Kamz Deligente in a statement.
“Instead of allowing the protests, which were driven by soaring fuel prices, the police attempted to silence them,” she added.
The group identified several areas where it said harassment and surveillance occurred, including Philcoa, Cubao, Monumento, Welcome Rotonda, Anonas, Novaliches and Vito Cruz.
