MANILA, Philippines – Pumanaw na ang matagal nang transport leader na si George San Mateo, sinabi sa anunsyo ng Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) nitong Sabado, Hulyo 26.
Si San Mateo ay edad 60 nang pumanaw dahil sa heart attack, gabi ng Biyernes.
“Ka George was known across the country as a fearless leader and activist fighting for the rights and welfare of jeepney drivers, operators, and working people,” saad sa pahayag ng Piston.
Ayon sa transport group, si San Mateo ay isinilang at lumaki sa Metro Manila.
“As a teenager during the Marcos Sr. dictatorship, Ka George witnessed injustice early on,” anang Piston, at sinabing ito ang nagtulak sa kanya para sumali ito sa Kabataan para sa Demokrasya at Nasyonalismo (Kadena), na isang “a youth group that stood up for democracy and national sovereignty during the dying years of the Marcos Sr. regime.”
Noong 1985, si San Mateo ay nagsilbing chairman ng Kadena-Parañaque chapter, at noong 1987, siya ay naging national spokesperson ng grupo.
Nagtrabaho rin ito bilang drayber sa loob ng isang dekada bago lumahok sa Piston noong 2004 bilang public information officer.
Kalaunan ay nahalal siya bilang Piston-Metro Manila secretary general at naging national spokesperson noong 2005. Siya ay naging national secretary general ng grupo noong 2007.
Pagsapit ng 2012, si San Mateo ay itinalaga bilang national president ng Piston.
“As president, Ka George led high-profile strikes and protests against fuel price hikes during the Aquino administration,” pag-alala ng Piston.
“Under his stewardship, Piston became known for militant yet publicly resonant campaigns that challenge both corporate and foreign interests and government inaction on public transport issues,” dagdag pa.
Noong 2017, pinangunahan din ni San Mateo ang laban ng transport group sa Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program ng Duterte administration, “pushing instead for a just, people-centered public transport policy rather than a profit-driven phaseout of traditional jeepneys.”
Inaresto ito sa pangunguna sa dalawang araw na nationwide transport strike noong Disyembre 2017 at nakalaya lamang sa pagpiyansa at naabswelto sa mga reklamo noong 2020.
“These legal actions underscored the Philippine state’s contentious relationship with transport workers and activists resisting anti-people policies,” anang Piston.
“After serving as Piston’s national president, Ka George was succeeded by Mody Floranda in 2019 and has since held the title of president emeritus.” RNT/JGC
