Transport leader Ka George, who led anti-modernization protests, passes away at 60

Long-time transport leader George San Mateo passed away on Friday due to a heart attack at the age of 60, according to Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston).

San Mateo, who served as Piston's former national president and was known by his alias Ka George, led the resistance against the government's public utility vehicle modernization program in 2017.

He was arrested for leading a two-day nationwide transport strike that year but was cleared of charges in 2020.

Before becoming a transport leader, San Mateo worked as a driver for over a decade, starting as a family driver and later working for a car rental company before becoming a taxi driver and operator of a second-hand vehicle.

San Mateo's activism began during the Marcos dictatorship when he joined Kabataan para sa Demokrasya at Nasyonalismo (Kadena) in 1985, serving as its Parañaque City chapter chairman and national spokesperson in 1987.