Tension gripped the Department of Energy head office in Taguig City as police and militants engaged in a confrontation before noon Thursday.

 

Police blocked the militants from getting near the DOE to protest the finding of a supposedly independent panel absolving oil firms from exploiting recent fuel hikes.

 

Despite not being able to storm the DOE, the militants held a program outside the premises at Bonifacio Global City, according to a report by radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen.

 

"PNoy at DOE inutil sa pagtaas ng presyo ng langis," the report quoted one of the streamers the protesters brought.

 

Earlier, militants said they would protest the findings of the independent panel, which on Wednesday disclosed it found nothing irregular about recent fuel prices.

 

Militant transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) also threatened to hold a transport strike if fuel price hikes continue this month.

 

PISTON secretary-general George San Mateo said the strike may happen either late September or early October. –KG, GMA News