Piston claims success, calls off 'extended' strike

Militant transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) said it will no longer "extend" its strike, claiming the protest action paralyzed 95 percent of public transportation around the country. Radio dzBB reported that Piston also decided that its members would end the strike and be back in the streets as early as 5 p.m. Piston secretary general George San Mateo claimed the group's members scored an "average 90 to 95-percent" transport paralysis nationwide, including a "70- to 90-percent" paralysis in Metro Manila. However, he said they will find other avenues to continue pushing for the repeal of the oil deregulation law and the dismantling of the oil cartel that they blamed for rising fuel prices. Piston's pronouncements comes amid claims of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) that vehicular traffic in the metropolis was "normal" on Thursday. The strike was launched in protest oil price hikes, but was marred by several incidents of alleged harassment by Piston supporters against drivers who continued to ply routes. San Mateo claimed a success rate of 95 percent in Davao and General Santos Cities, 95 percent in Bicol, 95 percent in Bacolod, 90 percent in Panay, and 85 percent in Cagayan de Oro. In Metro Manila, he said the strike paralyzed 90 percent of jeep operations in Monumento, 95 percent in San Juan, 95 percent in Alabang, 80 percent at Southmall, and 90 percent at Angono Crossing. San Mateo said the highest success rate was 97 percent in the route from Project 3 in Quezon City to Manila. - GMANews.TV