“BIGLANG LIKO?” MANIBELA’S MAR VALBUENA GOES VIRAL AFTER PEACE SIGN TO FIRST LADY

MANIBELA chairman Mar Valbuena drew attention online after a viral exchange with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, just a day after the transport group suspended its planned three-day strike.

MANIBELA began its nationwide protest on September 28, calling for government action on rising fuel prices, including the removal of fuel taxes and changes to policies affecting public transport. On the first day of the strike, Valbuena also confronted LTFRB personnel over what he alleged was the monitoring of striking jeepneys. LTFRB officials later clarified that the photos were being taken as part of situational reports on commuters affected by the strike.

MANIBELA subsequently called off the remaining days of its three-day protest and entered into discussions with the Land Transportation Office. The LTO, however, does not handle fare-setting for public utility vehicles.

On September 29, Valbuena attended a rice distribution event led by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos for transport workers. During the event, the First Lady reportedly playfully urged Valbuena to stop holding transport strikes. Valbuena responded with a peace-sign gesture, which quickly circulated online because of its association with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2022 campaign.

The moment prompted criticism and questions from some netizens, particularly because of the timing of the exchange following MANIBELA’s decision to suspend its strike.

MANIBELA has maintained that it is non-partisan. The viral interaction, however, has fueled online debate over Valbuena’s gesture and the group’s decision to end its protest after only one day.

Meanwhile, PISTON continued its separate transport strike, citing fuel prices and calling for additional government action on the rising cost of operating public utility vehicles.

For now, the viral peace sign remains just that—a gesture. Whether it signals anything beyond the exchange itself is a matter of interpretation, not something established by the documented events.