Despite welcoming the predicted fuel price rollback this week, transport group PISTON on Monday still blamed oil companies for the ongoing price hikes on petroleum products.
The national president of PISTON, or the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide, Mody Floranda told DZRH that their group welcomes the oil price rollbacks, saying that it is due to the successful action of drivers, operators, and the public.
"Wine-welcome natin 'yung sinasa bing rollback dahil ito naman ay bunga ng matagumpay na mga pagkilos ng mga drayber at operators at mamamayan doon sa panawagan nga natin na magkaroon ng rollback at suspension dun sa excise tax sa produktong petrolyo," Floranda said in an interview.
(We welcome the rollback because it is the result of the successful action of our driver, operators, and the public when they called for a rollback and suspension of excise tax on petroleum products.)
However, the PISTON president said the oil price rollbacks only exposes oil companies that are "playing" with the prices of oil products.
"Kaya't kung titignan po natin ay para talagang nalalantad 'yung mga oil company na pinaglalaruan lang nila 'yung presyuhan ng produktong petrolyo sa'tin." he said.
(But as we can see, this really reveals how oil companies are playing with the prices of petroleum products.)
"'Yung kumokontrol doon as patuloy na pagbaba at pagtaas ng petrolyo 'yung malalaking cartel," he further accused.
(Cartels control the continuous drop and increase of petroleum prices.)
According to Floranda, their group is confused on why the country is affected by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, when the country only consumes one percent of Russian crude.
He claimed that the country only uses oil from Saudi Arabia and Singapore, which is why it is hard to say that the Ukraine-Russia negotiation is the reason for the rollback.
"Sumasalamin lamang na 'yung pagtaas-pagbaba ng presyo ay talagan 'yung oil company na lang ang nagtatakda," he accused.
(It only shows that the increase and decrease of prices are dictated by oil companies.)
He made the remarks as oil companies forecast a rollback on diesel prices, which may drop by P10.70 to P10.90 per liter, according to Unioil Petroleum Philippines. Gasoline may also see a decrease of P5.10 to P5.30 per liter between March 21 and 28.
PISTON previously staged a mass protest last week to call on the removal of excise tax on oil and the Oil Deregulation Law so the government can control the prices of fuel.
