Camille Naredo

The Land Transportation Office in Quezon City. 

The Land Transportation Office in Quezon City. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Transport group Piston staged a protest-vigil in front of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Central Office in Quezon City on Tuesday afternoon to press for the immediate release of public utility vehicles impounded during the November 30 anti-corruption mobilization.Members and supporters had marched along East Avenue toward the LTO compound, where a program ran until the evening.A cultural solidarity night was set in the evening, followed by an overnight camp-out ahead of their Wednesday caravan to Liwasang Bonifacio, where they will join the Human Rights Day protest led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and Karapatan.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/8/pnp-assures-security-assistance-as-manibela-pushes-3-day-transport-strike-1121">READ: PNP assures security, assistance as Manibela pushes 3-day transport strike</a></div>Piston National President Mody Floranda said the vigil is meant to condemn what they describe as the LTO’s unjust seizure of vehicles used by members, their families, and community participants headed to the November 30 rally.He recounted how authorities allegedly failed to issue proper tickets at the site of apprehension.“Pinakalayunin nito ay para kondenahin iyong LTO sa kanilang in-impound [na jeepney units] mula noong Nobyembre 30. Hindi sila tinicketan doon sa kung saan sila hinuli,” Floranda said.“Hinuli at dinala dito iyong mga sasakyan, pati iyong laman ng mga sasakyan. Kaya kinukundena na namin itong ginawa ng LTO sapagkat kitang kita iyong kanilang pandarahas, iyong layunin na bakit hinuli,” he addedFloranda insisted that the impoundment appeared designed to disrupt public participation in the November 30 mobilization.Beyond the six jeepneys currently held in the LTO compound, Floranda said there were also vehicles impounded in Batangas. These units, he added, had been deployed to transport participants to EDSA and Calamba for regional solidarity actions.When asked about the LTO’s basis for the seizures, Floranda said the agency cited unspecified violations.“Ang sinabi nila ay may violation. Hinahanapan ng permit. At kung anu-ano na iyong ginawa, iyong ilaw, iyong sign na mga tinicket,” he narrated.Floranda also criticized the continued enforcement of the public utility vehicle modernization program, which he described as burdensome and exclusionary.He emphasized that some operators are unable to register because agencies allegedly refuse to accept their documents.“Hindi kasalanan ng mga operator kung bakit hindi naka-rehistro [ang jeep]. Sila iyong hindi tumatanggap. Ayaw nilang tanggapin na kahit anong gawing pagpa-file ng rehistro at saka ng prangkisa, ayaw tanggapin ng LTO at saka ng LTFRB,” he said.He further argued that the modernization program has already proven problematic. According to Floranda, many cooperatives involved in the modernization plan are struggling.“Marami ng mga kooperatiba at korporasyon, na talagang ngayon ay dumaraing. Hindi na nilang mabayaran iyong halaga ng sasakyan, hindi nila mabayaran iyong interes ng sasakyan na kanilang inutang. At maraming kooperatiba na nabaon sa utang,” he said.He argued that forcing small operators into the system risks pushing them into debt.“Ayaw namin ilagay sa alanganin iyong mga operator naming. Ayaw naming itulak doon sa sitwasyon na mababaon sila sa utang,” he added.LTO has yet to release a statement regarding Piston&#x27;s protests.As of Tuesday afternoon, Floranda said it remained unclear whether any vehicles would be released.Piston will hold another early-morning program on Wednesday before heading to Liwasang Bonifacio for the Human Rights Day march.

Transport group Piston staged a protest-vigil in front of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Central Office in Quezon City on Tuesday afternoon, December 9, to press for the immediate release of public utility vehicles impounded during the November 30 anti-corruption mobilization.

Transport group Piston staged a protest-vigil in front of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Central Office in Quezon City on Tuesday afternoon, December 9, to press for the immediate release of public utility vehicles impounded during the November 30 anti-corruption mobilization.

Piston stages vigil at LTO, demands immediate release of impounded jeepneys from Nov. 30 protest

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Piston stages vigil at LTO, demands immediate release of impounded jeepneys from Nov. 30 protest

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 09, 2025 10:00 PM PHT

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Land Transportation Office

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