Manibela

Manibela
Samahang Manibela Mananakay at Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon
AbbreviationSMMITT
Membership50,000 (2022)
Chairman
Mar Valbuena

The Samahang Manibela Mananakay at Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon (SMMITT), (lit. 'Federation of Drivers, Commuters, and United Transportation Terminals') simply known as Manibela (lit. 'steering wheel') is a public transport organization in the Philippines.[1][2] It claims to have 50,000 drivers and operators as members as of March 2022.[3]

The group has opposed the implementation of phaseout for traditional jeepneys under the Philippine government's Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.[3] They initiated a nationwide transport strike in 2023 against the policy.[4]

For the 2022 Philippine presidential election, they endorsed the campaign of Leni Robredo.[3] They made a failed bid to participate in the 2022 House of Representatives election and to win a seat in the legislature as a partylist organization.[5] Their candidacy failed to receive accreditation from the Commission on Elections.[6]

Manibela joined PISTON in the 2024 Labour Day protest against the government’s Jeepney modernization program.[7]

Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 158, Presiding Judge Manuel Gerard Tomacruz issued an arrest warrant dated April 23, 2024, against president Mar Valbuena with recommended bail of P10,000 each for 2 counts of cyber libel emanating Jaime Bautista's sworn complaint. Valbuena accused Bautista of corruption but the latter replied ‘I never accepted any money or favor.’[8]

References

  1. ^ "Commuters 'to suffer more' due to P2P service for UV Express". Rappler. May 30, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  2. ^ "Manibela asks commuters for understanding as drivers suspend operations". The Philippine Star. January 6, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Manibela transport group backs Robredo's presidential bid". ABS-CBN News. March 30, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  4. ^ Hilotin, Jay (March 3, 2023). "Philippines: Why 'jeepney' drivers declared a weeklong strike". Gulf News. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  5. ^ "'Real' public transpo laborers seek Congress seats amid 'neglect'". ABS-CBN News. October 3, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  6. ^ "Comelec rejects 107 party-list groups with finality". CNN Philippines. December 4, 2021. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  7. ^ Demayo, Mark (May 1, 2024). "Transport groups join Labor Day protest". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  8. ^ Bolledo, Jairo (April 30, 2024). "Court orders arrest of Manibela head Mar Valbuena over cyber libel charges". Rappler. Retrieved May 1, 2024.