‘Kuliglig’ drivers post bail

MANILA, Philippines—Thirteen of 15 kuliglig drivers (motorized pedicabs) who were arrested and charged for Wednesday’s violent protest were released from police custody on Friday night after they posted bail at the Metropolitan Trial Court in Manila.
Two of the arrested drivers, Nelson Pineda, 35, of Quiapo, Manila, and Marvin Serrano, 25, of Sta. Cruz, Manila, were not allowed to post bail after the Manila Police District (MPD) confirmed there were standing warrants for their arrest on other offenses.
An arrest warrant for slight physical injuries was issued by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court’s Branch 86 against Serrano while the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 4 issued a warrant against Pineda for violation of Republic Act 9262, the law punishing violence against women and children.
Serrano and Pineda will be taken back to the respective courts for the return of the arrest warrants.
On Friday, 15 of 16 kuliglig drivers were indicted on charges of direct assault upon agents of law and traffic obstruction at the Metropolitan Trial Court.
Assistant City Prosecutor Dinah Myrtle Pacquing ruled that one of the arrested drivers was only 17 years old and was removed as an accused in the information. He was also turned over to the custody of the local Department of Social Welfare Development.
The remaining accused were charged in court with assault on 28 members of the MPD assigned at the Manila City Hall police community precinct and the Public Safety Battalion. One of the casualties, Police Officer 2 Adonis Aguila, remains confined at the Ospital ng Maynila for massive head trauma.
The policemen were tapped for civil disturbance management operations on Wednesday when some 450 protesting pedicab and kuliglig drivers allegedly turned violent and attacked them. Only 16 of them, including two women, were arrested.
Pacquing recommended bail of P12,000 for each of the accused in the direct assault charge and P200 each for traffic obstruction.
Meanwhile, in a statement, Bayan Muna party-list representative Neri Javier Colmenares reiterated his group’s support for the struggle of kuliglig drivers against the ban.
“What we are against is the robbing of jobs of more than 10,000 drivers and the insecurity that it will place them and their family. Christmas is just a few weeks away and they should not be placed in this kind of situation,” he said.
He suggested that alternatives “with no strings or booby traps attached” be discussed with the beleaguered motorized pedicab drivers, proposing the implementation of a traffic scheme or the establishment of secondary roads to be used as fixed routes by the drivers.
“The problem is that the Manila City Hall was hell-bent on the immediate ban and even used an iron fist, including the violent dispersal. But the point is a just and humane solution must be found because we are talking here of at least 50,000 people, and that is no simple matter,” Colmenares said.
    
        PERSONAL OPINION:
     
     Mula sa sarili kong opinion,hindi naman tama yung ginawa ng ibang mga pulis na pagkaladkad sa isang kuliglig driver.Pwede naman kasing pasamahin ito ng maayos,hindi iyong kinaladkad ng ganun.Sa atin ding napagkakalam,hindi sila nakarehistro sa LTO.Sa kaso na ito,maaari pa naman din na mairehistro ang mga motor  pedikabs"kuliglig".Kaya ko din ito nasabi,kasi makakatulong din sila sa pagsalubong ng local commuters,na makakatulong sa maikling distansya ng pag babyahe.

      PARA SA INYO,TAMA BA ANG GINAWA NG MGA PULIS SA MGA KULIGLIG DRIVERS?