Jeepney Driver Passes Away After Suffering Heart Attack During Transport Strike Last Month
A veteran jeepney driver and transport advocate passed away after suffering a heart attack while participating in a transport strike last month.
On Wednesday evening (October 7, 2026), Elmer Cordero, 78, died after spending nine days in the hospital. He was rushed for medical treatment on September 29 after collapsing during a protest activity organized by transport group PISTON.
According to the organization, Cordero was actively taking part in the transport strike when he suddenly fell ill. Despite receiving medical attention and remaining under hospital care for more than a week, he eventually succumbed to his condition.
His death brought sadness to fellow drivers and members of various community groups who knew him for his dedication and commitment to public service. PISTON leaders remembered him as a long-time advocate who consistently stood with workers and ordinary commuters in campaigns affecting the transportation sector.
The group said Cordero’s efforts went beyond the concerns of jeepney drivers. Over the years, he had also worked alongside different sectors of society, earning the respect and admiration of many people in the community.
To help his family cope with the expenses brought about by his hospitalization, transport advocates and supporters are expected to extend financial assistance through collective efforts and donations.
As a tribute, PISTON encouraged members of the transport sector and supporters to wear blue and black ribbons in honor of Cordero’s memory and his years of service to the movement.
Many also remembered him as one of the members of the “PISTON 6,” a group of transport workers who were detained in June 2020 after staging a protest that called for assistance for struggling drivers during the height of the pandemic.
The social media users expressed their reactions to the driver’s demise:
