‘Criminal neglect of mass railway system’

We, members of Train Riders Network (TREN), welcome Pope Francis, the highest official of the Catholic Church, to our country.

Son to an accountant who worked in the railways, Pope Francis has been noted to be a passenger of various modes of mass transportation even when he was already the archbishop in Buenos Aires. True to the priesthood’s vow of poverty, he did not simply become an advocate of the masses—he is one of them.

In the past year, we have repeatedly seen the “Santo Papa” standing up to the evils of free-market capitalism and acting preferentially for the poor. Thus, we are confident that the Pope knows how an unjust and illegal MRT/LRT fare hike would hit the everyday commuter. We are certain that he will be in solidarity with the struggle against the privatization that caused the hikes.

We, workers, youth, students, professionals, and train enthusiasts from TREN, call on the Pope to speak up against the fare hikes brought about by the Aquino administration’s blind loyalty to big business such as the Ayalas, the Sobrepeñas and Manny Pangilinan.

We implore the Pope to call out President Aquino III to his criminal neglect of the mass railway system and his continued handing-over of government responsibilities to corporations.—JAMES RELATIVO, spokesperson, Train Riders Network, [email protected]