Police apprehend, then release 600 PUV drivers on Edsa

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) Highway Patrol Group (HPG) apprehended about 600 taxi, tricycle and UV Express drivers who continued to operate Tuesday, March 17, despite the suspension of public transport systems under an enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.

They were, however, released with a warning and told to go home.

Brigadier General Eliseo Cruz, HPG director, said PNP Chief Archie Gamboa ordered the apprehension of public utility vehicles (PUV) based on President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to place the entire Luzon under enhanced community quarantine.

Exempted from the apprehension are those ferrying passengers to the airports and those being utilized for medical emergency.

“Bawal na ang PUVs na tumakbo sa lansangan sa Luzon. Ipinag-utos natin sa lahat ng regional HPG na ipatupad na ito hulihin na lahat ng PUVs - bus, jeep, taxi,” said Brigadier General Eliseo Cruz, HPG director.

(PUVs are temporarily not allowed to operate in Luzon. We have directed all HPG regional units to apprehend all PUVs - buses, jeepneys and taxi units.)

“Nakikita nyo karamihan nahuli natin taxi kasi wala na talaga ang mga bus ipinatupad na ng kanilang mga operator na huwag na silang bumyahe. Itong mga taxi ang mga dahilan hindi daw nila alam pero mga operators nila nagmomonitor din,” he added.

(As you can see, most of those apprehended are taxi drivers because bus operators have suspended operations. They argued that they were not informed but taxi operators are actually also monitoring the government’s announcements.)

The HPG recorded the drivers’ and their operators’ names and addresses, which will be included in the report that will be submitted to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for proper disposition.

Cruz said they advised the drivers to go home and follow the government’s directives.

“Machecheck namin yan pag second offense na siguro mas malaki na ang aksyon at parusa ng LTFRB,” said Cruz.

In their defense, the drivers said they were not properly informed about the strict quarantine measures. They also have to provide for their families.

“Buti sana kung may ayuda ang gobyerno, okay lang yan. Tsaka hindi naman namin nabalitaan kagabi, dapat warning lang muna. Pauwiin na lang sana kami,” Raymond Enriquez, one of the taxi drivers, said.

(They should just let us go home. It would have been okay if there was assistance from the government. Besides, we were not informed. They should let us go with a warning.)

“Naghahanapbuhay lang kami kailangan namin kumita pangkain ng pamilya namin kung hindi kami babyahe magugutom ang pamilya namin, buti sana kung bibigyan kami ng ayuda walang problema samin yun kahit dalawang buwan kaming hindi bumyahe okay lang kung hindi kami babyahe hindi kami kakain sinong aasahan ng pamilya namin ibang tao?” he added.

(We are just trying to earn a living so we can feed our families. We could afford not to take out our units even for two months if government could provide us with assistance. Otherwise, we won’t eat. To whom can we turn to?)

Ely Catacutan, a tricycle driver, said noted the lack of an information dissemination drive.

“Mali kasi hindi sila kaagad nagpasabi na gagawin na ganito dapat sinabi nila agad na bawal na bumyahe. Hindi namin alam magkakaganyan pala,” he said.

(This is wrong, They should have told us about this first. We didn’t know that this would happen.)

The estimated 600 taxi units were apprehended along Edsa early Tuesday morning, as police implemented stricter quarantine measures in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of an enhanced community quarantine in Luzon in a bid to slow the spread of Covid-19, the infection caused by the novel coronavirus.

Under an enhanced community quarantine, public transport systems are suspended, food and health services are regulated, and more uniformed men are deployed to impose the strict quarantine measures.

Luzon’s over 53 million residents are supposed to just stay at home and only one person per household is allowed to go out to procure basic necessities.

The President, however, announced also social amelioration measures to help the citizenry cope with the lockdown.

He urged a moratorium on lease rates, release of pro-rated 13th month pay, reprieve in utility bills payment, and assistance to micro and small enterprises. (SunStar Philippines)