• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
Major transport groups in Bacolod City, together with other progressive groups, staged an action protest at the Bacolod City Government Center Replica at the Public Plaza as they sought justice and commemorated the anniversary of what they claimed was an ‘unjust arrest and water cannon incident’ in front of L’Fisher Hotel on September 18, 2024.
Kabacod Negros Transport Organization (KNETCO) treasurer Judalyn Pacheco said in an interview that the transport sector members and leaders deserve justice as she recalled her experiences during the incident.
“I was in front of the protest, and they bombed us with water cannons, but I never retreated because I know we have the right. It is nasty and painful to recall what they did to us a year ago,” she expressed.
She further described the said incident as ‘unjust,’ stating, “We seek for justice regarding the incident that happened last September 18; we hope that justice will be served.”
Moreover, according to Bacolod Alliance of Commuters, Operators, and Drivers (BACOD) – Manibela President Rudy Catedral, the case regarding the arrest of the 6 leaders and members of the transport groups during the said incident is still underway.
“We will have our last witness before the court decides the ruling,” he said, expressing confidence that they will win the case.
Aside from the commemoration of the water cannon incident, the protest action yesterday was to answer the call of the national transport groups to seek accountability against corrupt officials.
Catedral clarified that the transport groups in Negros Occidental and in Bacolod City have decided to deny the call of the national group to hold a strike. He said that the decision was made to not affect the commuters.
“There is corruption within the Department of Transportation (DOTr),” Catedral stressed, claiming that the department has allocated a budget for service contracting wherein the DOTr will provide subsidies to the cooperatives to conduct a free ride for commuters.
“There is a budget for service contracting wherein the DOTr must provide funds to the transport cooperatives to provide free rides for the commuters, but we see none,” he added.
Catedral also disclosed that hundreds of members and leaders of the transport groups will join the indignation rally facilitated by the church leaders set for Sunday, September 21.
While other sectors are calling for accountability on flood control projects, the transport groups will rally to seek the government’s approval to bring back the 5-year franchise program and to express their opposition to the modernization program.
“We are fighting so that our livelihood will not be lost,” he said.*
