After spending a week in detention, 72-year-old Piston member jeepney driver Elmer Cordero is finally free.
Cordero and Wilson Remilla were allowed to post bail by the Caloocan City Metropolitan Court Branch 51, their lawyer Atty. Vj Topacio shared on a. Facebook post.
The two were part of the Piston 6, who were apprehended last week for protesting the loss of their livelihood amid the pandemic and charged with disobedience to social distancing and mass gathering rules, and resistance to persons in authority.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10158636637112010&set=a.10151902834202010&type=3
Yesterday, four of their companions were released after posting a bail of P3,000 each. Cordero, who had a namesake with an estafa case, and Remilla who had an undismissed carnapping case were left in jail.
[READ: Not all ‘Piston 6’ drivers are released yet]https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10158377049884002&set=a.10150665379494002&type=3&theater
Earlier today in a virtual press conference, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said charges must be faced regardless of age, pertaining to the case of Cordero, the oldest among the six detained jeepney drivers.
Since the implementation of quarantine public utility jeepneys have been banned to operate by the government claiming it is hard to implement social distancing inside these vehicles.
[READ: The reason why there are no jeeps on the road is not just safety protocols—which they’ve instituted BTW]Fast forward to the easing of lockdown in NCR to general community quarantine more than two months after, only point-to-point buses and transport network vehicle services are allowed to operate in Metro Manila.
Header photo courtesy of Niño Jesus Orbeta/Inquirer
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Writer: CHRISTIAN SAN JOSE
