By Joseph Almer Pedrajas
The six elderly jeepney drivers arrested for staging a protest in Caloocan City will have to spend three more days behind bars as their lawyers had not received a resolution from the court on Friday (June 5) regarding their case.
In a text message sent to one of the group's counsels, lawyer Henry Enaje, he was told that the Caloocan City Metropolitan Trial Court was unable to release the resolution because of the loss of internet connection, among other reasons.
"Sabi ay maghintay at baka sakali gumana ang internet bago magsara ng 5 p.m... Malabo ang bail out ngayon (They told us to wait and maybe the internet connection would be restored before the court closed at 5 p.m. It's unlikely bail can be posted now)," part of the text message read.
The drivers will have to stay in police custody until Tuesday as the court is not open on weekends and will remain closed on Monday for disinfection, the message to Enaje read.
Jeeney drivers Elmer Cordero, 72; Severino Ramos, 59; Wilson Ramilia, 43; Ramon Paloma, 48; Ruben Baylon, 59; and Arsenio Ymas Jr, 56, members of transport group PISTON, have been in jail for three days now after they were arrested for staging a protest on Tuesday morning to call for the resumption of jeepney operations.
The Caloocan Police said the six violated the prohibition against "non-essential" mass gathering and committed "resistance and disobedience to a person in authority."