Pasang Masda transport group president Roberto “Ka Obet” Martin took a swipe at Manibela president Mar Valbuena on Wednesday, saying the latter had deceived Pasang Masda members from Lardizabal-Tayuman in Manila to convince them to participate in their three-day strike.
Martin said he instructed his members to pull out from the Manibela strike, which also claimed participants from the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap) and the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston), which ended their own strike yesyerday.
“(Valbuena) was engaging in black propaganda to fool other transport members. He even distributed Pasang Masda t-shirts (which were not ours). He just wanted to destabilize the government,” Martin told Manila Standard.
“I do not call (Valbuena) a constructive leader but a destructive one. The government cannot just easily give in to his demands right there and then,” he added.
“I am the (longest and) oldest transport leader here. Before I refused to listen but now I understand why things are like that. The government is trying to listen to us in the transport sector. There have been continuing dialogues. Are they not enough?” Martin asked.