Road spikes mar transport protest activity in Davao

Spikes that were left on the road punctured some vehicles' tires, marring Thursday's transport strike in Davao City by militant groups protesting rising fuel prices. A report by radio dzBB's Davao affiliate said several motorists complained the spikes were placed on the city's roads before dawn, just before the scheduled transport strike began. The report said even media service vehicles fell victim to the spikes. City Mayor Sara Duterte ordered local police to arrest those leaving the spikes, and those who would burn tires during the protest action. Local transport groups that took part in the strike claimed to have paralyzed 90 to 95 percent of public transport in Davao, the report said. In Metro Manila, meanwhile, police secured Mendiola Bridge near Malacañang to make sure no untoward incident happens. "Nariyan ang tao namin sa Mendiola to ensure peaceful and orderly ang protesta nila (Our men are in Mendiola to ensure the protest is peaceful and orderly)," Manila Police District head Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla said in an interview on dzBB radio. Thursday's protest caravans were staged in several cities in the country by militant transport groups calling government to address recent rounds of fuel price hikes. — LBG, GMA News