MEDIA RELEASE March 30, 2000
Riding the wave of successful nationwide protests and transport strikes, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) today challenged the US-Estrada regime to face the issue and respond to the people's demands for a rollback of oil prices, the scrapping of the oil deregulation law and the nationalization of the oil industry.
"Tagumpay ang protesta ng masa laban sa dayuhang kartel ng langis at sa papet na rehimeng US-Estrada!," said BAYAN Secretary-General Teodoro A. Casiņo.
"Through strikes and other mass actions, Filipinos across the country sent a strong message to the US-Estrada regime that they are fed up of the oil cartel robbing us blind," Casiņo explained.
"We demand a rollback of oil prices, nothing less. We call on Congress to swiftly take steps in stopping future oil price hikes. What it can do right away is to scrap the Oil Deregulation Law and to pass the proposed Oil Exchange Bill," he said.
"We also voiced out our strong opposition to shoulder the proposed Road User's Tax and eight other new taxes being proposed by the US-Estrada regime," said Casiņo.
Calling the government's intra a political suicide if the government , the Bayan leader also said that the nationwide protests showed yet again President Estrada's isolation from the drivers, workers other oppressed sectors.
The Bayan leader asked the public to remain vigilant and militant until the US-Estrada government is forced to institute positive measures against oil price hikes and the foreign oil cartel.
At the same time, Casiņo downplayed the US-Estrada regime's threats to use force against the protests, saying no one was scared by malicious pronouncements from PNP officials Nicanor Bartolome and Edgardo Aglipay.
"Despite the communist bogey and intimidation, the protests were loud and clear and unwavering. Bigo ang PNP sa panloloko at pananakot nito sa masa," Casiņo added.
Led by the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON), Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), KONTRA KARTEL and BAYAN, the strike crippled transportation across the country.
The strikes were also successful in paralyzing Bulacan (90%); Pampanga (100%); Tarlac (95%); Bataan (100%); Calamba, Laguna (95%); San Pablo City, Laguna (90%); Cavite (74%); Albay (99%); Sorsogon (100%); Camarines Sur (100%); Bacolod City (100%); Negros Occidental (98%); Negros Oriental (98%); Cebu (100%); Bohol (100%); Tagbilaran City (90%); Butuan City (90%); Cagayan de Oro City (90%); Davao City (98%); Kidapawan (100%); Cotabato (95%); Mati (98%); Tagum City (99%); Digos (100%); and General Santos City (100%).
In Metro Manila, initial reports say that PISTON-allied jeepney groups halted public transport in Alabang, Muntinlupa City (100%); Monumento, Caloocan City (100%); Cubao, Quezon City; Proj.2-3, Quezon City (100%); MCU-Baclaran (100%); Sangandaan-Malabon (100%); Retiro-Pier (90%); Sucat-Baclaran (90%); MCU-Divisoria-Abad Santos (90%) MCU-Harrison Plaza (100%), among others.
Casiņo also deplored the mass arrest and detention of eight strikers in Bulacan and Caloocan City. He also hit the five-hour detention of local PISTON leaders Ric Antonio and Jovito Rasay by elements of the PNP in Taguig.
"Is it a crime to fight back against oil price hikes? Is it a crime for drivers to speak up on issues that concern them?," he asked. "There are no basis for these arrests and we ask the police to release them unconditionally." ###