MANILA, Philippines - Members of militant group Bayan Muna held a lightning rally in front of a Petron gas station in the Tomas Morato-Timog area in Quezon City on Tuesday.

They demanded the government to stop the series of oil price hikes in the country.

They said that the government and oil companies were heartless in this day of hearts for increasing fuel prices by P0.50 for gasoline and P0.85 for diesel.

Transport group Piston wants the government to ask oil firms to suspend any price increase during the six-month audit of the firms' books by an independent review committee.

Since January, diesel prices have risen by P2.15 per liter, while gasoline prices have increased by P3.60 per liter.