Police help sought versus “barkers”
DRIVERS and operators of passenger jeepneys have asked the Dagupan Police to increase police visibility in designated loading and unloading areas in the city to deter “barkers” who demand payment for their unsolicited service.
The “barkers”, post themselves in parking places and designed loading and unloading areas announcing availability of seats in jeepneys while cajoling commuters to board. They then demand “fees” from drivers for each passenger boarding before their jeepneys are allowed to move on.
Benny Aquino, president of the Alliance of United Transports Organization Province-wide (AUTOPRO Inc.), sent his letter request dated March 2, 2009 to Supt. Mariano Luis Verzosa, chief of police of Dagupan City.
Aquino complained that the “barkers” harass jeepney drivers by forcing the latter to pay “barking fees” with threats of physical harm if they refuse to pay.
AUTOPRO has called for the arrest of these unscrupulous “barkers” in the city.
It was not the first time that the group sought the intervention of the authorities against “barkers” who, he said, are actually extorting money from poor jeepney drivers.
Usually, a barker demands P1 for every passenger loaded into the jeepney.
“We hereby denounce in the strongest terms such unlawful acts of ‘kotong‘ and extortion which undermine the transport industry and put in danger the lives of our drivers who are earning a decent way of living,” the letter reads.
At the same time, Aquino deplored the continued operation of numerous public transport vehicles without any franchise using the city as their point of origin and disembarkation “to the detriment of the licensed drivers and legal operators”.
Aquino urged the police to arrest the drivers and impound the “colorum” vehicles.—LM
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