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Violence mars kuliglig protest in Manila


(Updated 1:11 a.m. Dec. 2) Violence marred a barricade in a main street in Manila set up by drivers of "kuliglig" (motorized pedicabs) to protest a city order barring them from the city's main streets. Some policemen and drivers were injured when the latter hurled stones at the lawmen who tried to dismantle the barricade at Burgos Street past 2 p.m., more than two hours after the protest started, radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported. GMA News reporter Emil Sumangil reported that police dispersed the protesters by aiming water cannons at them and using a truck in running over their motorized pedicabs. Sumangil said the police ground commander, Chief Inspector Mar Reyes from the Manila City Hall, was hit on the cheek by stones hurled by the protesters.
Meanwhile, the radio report said a civilian was bloodied after being hit during the confrontation. "Nakatayo lang ako doon, bigla akong pinalo. Nanonood lang ako (I was just standing there watching the confrontation when I got hit)," he said. On the other hand, a policeman was similarly bloodied after being hit by a stone thrown by the drivers. Some of the drivers were arrested while others were subdued with water from fire trucks and tear gas from the Manila police's Special Weapons and Tactics unit. Women and children who accompanied the drivers pleaded with the police to stop stunning them with tear gas, even as other drivers fled in different directions to elude arrest by pursuing policemen. Traffic snarled, commuters stranded Traffic was snarled along the roads near City Hall as the drivers left their vehicles along Burgos Street. The protest stemmed from the city government's order banning "kuligligs" from Manila's main streets due to complaints that they snarled traffic by weaving in and out of roads. But the leaders of the drivers said the city government's order limiting them to side streets robbed them of their livelihood. They also claimed their vehicles were environmentally friendlier than other public motor vehicles plying Manila's streets. During the barricade, commuters were forced to alight from public jeeps affected by the barricade and walk. Manila traffic enforcement unit head Chief Inspector Reynaldo Nava ordered his men to disperse the drivers and dismantle the pedicabs barricading the road. "Ayaw madala sa pakiusap, narito na kami sa likod para isa-isa sila alisin (They just won't listen to reason. We are here to dismantle that barricade)," he said in an interview on dzBB. He added traffic was rerouted to nearby Ayala Avenue, even as he apologized to commuters inconvenienced by the incident. Traffic along the northbound lane of Burgos Street was immobile while traffic at the southbound part was disrupted as motorists slowed down to look at the spectacle. On Tuesday night, the drivers held a vigil in Manila as part of a last-ditch stand to fend off the order banning them from the city's main roads. 16 drivers detained, beaten up As of posting time, meanwhile, at least 16 kuliglig drivers remain detained at the Manila Police District headquarters following the dispersal of their barricade in the vicinity of the Manila City Hall. Relatives and supporters of the 16 drivers posted themselves in front of the MPD headquarters to push for for the drivers' release. The 16 are facing charges of illegal assembly, assault and obstruction, according to PO3 Abelardo Aguilar in a separate report by GMA News' Joseph Morong on "Saksi".
Aguilar said the drivers obstructed traffic and turned violent during the barricade dispersal, so the police had to arrest them. The 16, some of whom showed signs of beating and injury, maintained their opposition to the city order banning their vehicles from plying Manila routes, as this will deny them of their livelihood. According to Aguilar, the drivers may be freed as soon as they are able to post bail, the amount of which has yet to be determined by the city prosecutor. Drivers willing to register kuligligs Earlier, the drivers continued to exert last-ditch efforts to block the kuliglig-pedicab ban, saying they are willing to have their vehicles registered with the Land Transportation Office so that they can continue operating them. But the city government maintained the order stands even if the drivers attempt to secure the necessary permit from the LTO. "Ang suggestion namin para magpatuloy ang inyong hanapbuhay, tanggalin niyo ang motor," said the city's legal officer Renato Dela Cruz in a separate report by GMA News' Cedric Castillo also on "24 Oras". (Our suggestion, for you to continue this livelihood, is to remove the engines.) Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim likewise maintained the order will be implemented, stressing that the drivers were forewarned. "Sinabi na sa kanila 'yan na sumunod sila. Kung ayaw nilang sumunod, huhulihin sila, ii-impound yung mga (kuliglig) nila," Lim said in the same newscast. (They were already told to obey the law. If they don't obey it, then they will be arrested, and their cabs impounded.) — RSJ/KBK/JV, GMANews.TV
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