Bicol transport leader shot, in critical condition

MANILA, Philippines – A Bicol-based leader of a militant transport group was seriously hurt on Monday after being shot by two unidentified assailants while preparing for the day’s nationwide strike, a police official said. Inspector Ayn Natuel of the Bicol Police identified the victim as Joel Ascutia, president of the Concerned Drivers and Operators for Reform-Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Condor-Piston) chapter in the province. The suspects, riding in tandem on a motorcycle, shot Ascutia about 4 a.m. in front of a gas station along Rizal Street in Daraga, Albay while he was driving his passenger jeepney. He was brought to the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital for operation. Natuel said Ascutia is in critical condition after suffering a gunshot wound near his navel. Five empty 9 mm shells were retrieved at the crime scene. Ascutia’s colleagues and human rights groups condemned the attack and quickly blamed the government for it. "Naniniwala kami (na) may kinalaman itong gobyerno sa pag-ambush kay Joel [We believe that the government is behind the ambush of Joel]," said Piston secretary-general George San Mateo in a radio interview hours after the shooting. San Mateo noted that the incident occurred less than 200 meters from Camp Simeon Ola, the headquarters of the Philippine National Police in the Bicol region. Tessa Lopez, public information officer of the Bicol chapter of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), said the ambush "was meant to sabotage today’s [Monday] transport strike and to sow terror on the ranks of cause-oriented groups." Despite the incident, San Mateo said the transport strike in Bicol and the entire Southern Tagalog pushed through. Aside from Southern Luzon, transport groups also held strikes in Metro Manila, Baguio City, Panay and Guimaras Islands, Davao, General Santos City, Cagayan de Oro and Cebu. The strike was done to protest the series of fuel price increases being implemented by local oil players, particularly Pilipinas Shell, Petron Corporation and Chevron Philippines Inc. (formerly Caltex). - GMANews.TV