Militants hold protest at oil depot, noise barrage at QC vs fuel price hike

Militant groups picketed an oil depot in Manila and held a noise barrage in Quezon City Wednesday to protest the latest round of fuel price hikes. In Manila, militant women's group Gabriela picketed the oil depot in Pandacan to denounce the latest fuel price hikes, radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported. The report said members of the group slapped stickers on trucks, with the messages on the stickers questioning the price hikes. There was no initial report of violent confrontation between the protesters and the security and police personnel at the depot. In Quezon City, the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) held a noise barrage across a mall along Aurora Boulevard in Cubao district, dzBB's Allan Gatus reported. PISTON reminded President Benigno Aquino III of his promise to address the concerns of transport groups, whose representatives he met in Malacañang last month. The report quoted PISTON secretary general George San Mateo as saying PISTON will not stop "reminding" the Aquino administration to take action against what he claimed were abusive price hikes by major oil firms. Meanwhile, also in Manila, dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported members of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas began a three-day campout at Mendiola Bridge near Malacañang. The report said the farmers set up tents as the farmers sought to air their protest against amending the 1987 Constitution. — LBG, GMA News