President Duterte threatens iconic Philippine ‘jeepney’

Jeepneys at a busy street in Manila. -AFP filepic

MANILA: Firebrand Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte threatened Tuesday to scrap by next year the “jeepneys” that have become a national symbol, as he became embroiled in a showdown with the mass transport industry.

The flamboyantly-decorated but smoke-belching vehicles were originally converted from surplus World War II US army jeeps but now largely use reconditioned diesel engines from Japan.