Palace: No harassment in PISTON George San Mateo’s arrest order

The arrest warrant against Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide national president George San Mateo should not be considered harassment, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

At a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said San Mateo’s arrest stemmed from the transport strike he led in October, which prompted Malacañang to suspend government work and classes.

He added that it was illegal for San Mateo, a holder of a franchise or a certificate of public convenience, to participate in any transport strike.

“As I said, it is also pursuant to a warrant of arrest duly issued by a court and therefore, there can be no harassment here ‘no. We are just allowing the rule of law to prevail,” he said.

“The warning was made. He defied. He now has to face the consequences,” he added.

Roque also said that although there is freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, this is limited in the case of holders of certificates of public convenience.

“This is an exception to the Bill of Rights… because the law says so. And why? Because the public eventually will be affected by their acts. Why do you have a certificate of public convenience? To render a service necessary to the public,” he said.

“But if you will be a tool to inconvenience the public, then that’s a violation of the trust reposed in you by the state because that certificate of a public convenience is not a right. It’s a privilege reserved only for those who can meet the obligations of franchise holders,” he added.

In October, Duterte said he would arrest PISTON and other jeepney drivers who would join transport strikes since they were committing rebellion.

Roque, however, said that there was no complaint of rebellion against San Mateo, only a violation of Section 20 (k) of the Commonwealth Act No. 146 or The Public Service Act.

“Well, the President said it, that there was no case filed for rebellion. Let’s leave it at that,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News