BACOLOD City – The Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) implemented a stricter security at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC).
This comes after members of a traditional jeepney transport group stormed the BCGC yesterday morning, August 28, and staged a rally against the national government’s Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).
POSO head Primitivo Tabujara said members of the Negros United Transport Coalition (NUTC) entered BCGC disguised as regular residents with transactions at the government center around 7:30 a.m., but when they reached the lobby they changed their clothes and started the protest.
They even used a megaphone, Tabujara said, causing alarm to the employees and several taxpayers.
NUTC is composed of Kabakod Negros Transport Coalition Incorporated, United Negros Drivers and Operators Center, Bacolod Alliance for Commuters, Operators and Drivers Inc. (BACOD), and Kilusang Mayo Uno.
Following the incident, the city government directed all doors of the BCGC, except the main entrance door, be closed the whole day yesterday.
City government clients were only allowed to pass by the main entrance and POSO guards strictly inspected them before allowing entry to ensure that no deadly weapons and megaphones would sneak in.
Police personnel from the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) were also deployed at the BCGC to ensure that the incident will not happen again.
Tabujara said the rallyists violated the law and they leave it to the City Legal Office to take action over the incident.
He added that they will no longer allow rallyists even outside the BCGC without the necessary permit.
Meanwhile, the rallyists left the BCGC at around 10 a.m. after a dialogue with Tabujara and the police.
In an interview, BACOD president Rudy Catedral said they entered the BCGC to conduct a silent protest, adding they wanted to personally talk with Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez regarding their concerns on the implementation of the PTMP.
The rallyists said they hope the city mayor could help them secure a franchise.
Mayor Benitez, however, was not at the BCGC yesterday./PN
