Big public transport groups back Eleazar

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s three biggest public transport alliances threw their support behind former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now senatorial candidate Guillermo Eleazar, citing his stern policy against “kotong cops” and for lending his voice to air the concerns of the transport sector amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a joint statement, the Pangkahalatang Sanggunian Manila at Suburbs Drivers Association (Pasang-Masda), Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP) and the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO) committed to support the senatorial candidacy of Eleazar in behalf of their over half a million members.

“Over the years, Pasang-Masda, ALTODAP and ACTO have always been united in voicing out the concerns and in fighting for the rights and welfare of all drivers and operators of public utility vehicles across the country. We intend to uphold this unity and show our force in the coming May 9, 2022 elections,” the transport groups said.

According to the groups, Pasang-Masda has around 120,000 members while ALTODAP has 450,000 members.

The groups described Eleazar as an embodiment of what they wanted to see from a public servant: “tough but fair, approachable but firm in his principle of fighting for what is just and right, a man with honor and integrity and a man who believes in consultative leadership.”

According to the groups, Eleazar always made sure that their complaints against erring policemen and traffic enforcers who were engaged in extortion and other illegal activities were not only heard, but immediately addressed from when he was still the district director of the Quezon City Police District until he became the PNP chief.

Eleazar also served as the transport groups’ adviser when he served as the commander of the government’s Joint Task Force COVID Shield, using his influence and reach for the implementation of reasonable lockdown rules “in order for us to go out and earn a living in the middle of the pandemic.”