Piston raises concern about the Philippine government’s latest appointment of former Duterte aide Vince Dizon as Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) under the Marcos Jr. administration.
Dizon, a key architect of the Duterte regime’s Build Build Build program and former CEO of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), carries a notorious record of alleged corruption, corporate servitude, and human rights violations. His leadership in the violent displacement of thousands of Aeta indigenous communities in Capas, Tarlac, to pave the way for the New Clark City project, exposes his contempt for the rights of marginalized Filipinos. Under his watch, ancestral lands were plundered, families were uprooted, and generations of indigenous heritage were erased—all to serve foreign monopolies and corporate interests.
Dizon’s legacy is further stained by the P50 million “Olympic cauldron” scandal during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, a grotesque symbol of wasteful spending and cronyism. He faced plunder charges for the misuse of billions in public funds for New Clark City’s sports facilities. How can such a figure, entangled in corruption and anti-people policies, be trusted to lead the DOTr?
Marcos Jr.’s decision to appoint Dizon—a puppet of corporations and foreign capital—signals the government’s intent to escalate its attacks on public transport workers. Just as Dizon enabled the displacement of the Aeta, we fear he will now facilitate the corporate takeover of our streets through jeepney phaseout, and the further marginalization of drivers and operators struggling under the government’s anti-poor, pro-monopoly “modernization” schemes.
We challenge the government: Will Dizon defend drivers and operators, or will he serve as a pawn for big businesses and foreign investors?
Can a man who evicted thousands of indigenous Filipinos be expected to safeguard the rights of transport workers?
Piston stands firm: We will not entrust our futures to a government that prioritizes profit over people. Dizon’s appointment only deepens our resolve to resist. We call on all drivers, operators, commuters, and the Filipino public to unite against this tyrannical alliance of political dynasties, corporate greed, and foreign domination.