Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 9) – The oldest of the six jeepney drivers arrested for protesting their loss of livelihood due to quarantine transportation protocols is now free after posting bail.
Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said during a briefing that age does not exempt anyone from facing charges.
The Caloocan City Metropolitan Court Branch 51 ordered the Caloocan City Police Station to release Elmer Cordero, 72, and his companion Wilson Remilla, after posting bail.
Cordero and Remilla were not allowed to walk free yesterday along with four other arrested members of the jeepney drivers organization Piston. Police said Cordero has a namesake with a pending estafa case while Remilla has an undismissed carnapping case.
The drivers, dubbed the Piston Six, were arrested last Tuesday along Edsa for allegedly refusing to stop their protest action calling for government aid and permission to ply their routes again.
Jeepneys continue to be banned on Metro Manila’s streets since mid-March, when the government imposed strict quarantine measures to help curb the spread of the coronavirus disease.
The ban continued, however, despite the easing of quarantine measures in the capital region, after jeepney operators failed to convince authorities that social distancing measures would be strictly observed by drivers and passengers.
“Titingnan po natin ‘yan kasi regardless of your age, kapag may pending case kinakailangan harapin yung kaso,” said Roque.
[Translation: We’ll look into that, because regardless of your age, if you have a pending case, you have to face it.]
“Magkakaroon lamang po ‘yan ng clemency if he is found guilty. so meron po tayong probisyon that the court can recommend pardon or parole to senior citizens.”
[Translation: There can only be clemency if he is (already) found guilty. So, we have a provision that the court can recommend pardon or parole to senior citizens.]
