11 hurt in drivers, police clash

A GROUP of motorized pedicab drivers clashed with elements of the Manila Police District in Manila City Hall following a dispersal operation Wednesday.

Three cops, seven “kuliglig” drivers and a civilian were hurt during the dispersal that took place at 2 p.m. Wednesday along P. Burgos Street.

The wounded police officers were identified as Marcelo Reyes, Adonis Aguila, and Edmund De Jesus.

Also injured in the incident were Renato Palomo, Eufremio Tisado, Armando Usiamat, Ricardo Dayanan, Roberto Eugenio, Mary Joy Mangalili, an unidentified pedicab driver, and a cameraman of GMA-7.

The Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Pedicab at Kuliglig Draybers are protesting Mayor Alfredo Lim’s Executive Order no. 16 and 17, which called for the phase-out of “kuligligs” or three-wheeled vehicles starting December 1.

The group has filed a petition at the Supreme Court last week, seeking to declare Lim’s EOs as null and void, and for the issuance of a temporary restraining order.

But the SC en banc issued a resolution remanding the case to the Manila regional trial court for determination of facts.

The group started convening Tuesday night in Lawton, Manila and started their protest rally at 7:30 a.m. in front of the Manila City Hall.

When they attempted to proceed to the SC, they were blocked by a group of policemen at Padre Faura Street.

Initially, the police sought to employ maximum tolerance and had asked protesters to give at least two lanes for public and private vehicles.

Negotiations however proved futile as hardliners refused to budge from their protest lanes, prompting the policemen to initiate dispersal.

Using metal shields and wooden staff, cops pushed the hardliners back, who retaliated by throwing stones and soft drink bottles.

Police then used tear gas and hosed down the protesters. As if it were not enough, a 10-wheeler truck tried to ram motorized pedicabs to forcibly remove them from the road.

About 10 protesters were arrested and brought to the custody of the MPD for questioning.

The Manila City Government reiterated that “kuliglig” cannot be allowed on streets because its motors are not registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Lim likewise encouraged the drivers instead to revert the manually driven pedicab or the “padyak”. (JCV/Sunnex)