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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Two PISTON 6 drivers test positive for COVID-19

Two PISTON 6 drivers test positive for COVID-19

Published Jun 18, 2020 12:00 am
By Joseph Pedrajas Two of the six elderly jeepney drivers who were arrested and detained after staging a protest in Caloocan City earlier this month have tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (Photo courtesy of Egay Erice) (Photo courtesy of Egay Erice) This was disclosed by Caloocan 2nd district Rep. Egay Erice in a Facebook post and confirmed by Atty. VJ Topacio, the lawyer of one of the drivers, on Thursday (June 18). Erice did not disclose the identities of the patients, but 72-year-old Elmer Cordero, the oldest of the drivers, reportedly tested negative after undergoing swab testing. "I'm no doctor, but by the looks of it, the over-cramped situation in our prisons is really a good candidate," Topacio added when the Manila Bulletin asked where he thinks the drivers could have caught the virus. Erice, who was among those who assisted the drivers during their release, has urged authorities to also conduct COVID-19 testing on other detainees and disinfect the area where the six protesting drivers, called the PISTON 6, were jailed. Cordero; Wilson Ramilla, 43; Severino Ramos, 59; Ramon Paloma, 48; Ruben Baylon, 59; and Arsenio Ymas Jr, 56 were the PISTON 6 members detained for at least six days after staging a protest along EDSA to call for the resumption of their operations in Metro Manila. They were charged with simple disobedience and were set free only after their camp posted bail, which was generated from the donations of several people.
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