CLARK, PAMPANGA – Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade ordered the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to apprehend Angkas bikers who deliberately defy the order of the Supreme Court (SC).
“Hulihin ninyo ang lahat ng Angkas riders na lalabag. Hindi naman tamang i-violate ng Angkas ang batas at ang Supreme Court order. Mali ‘yon. Noong naglabas ng TRO ang korte laban sa DOTr, sumunod kami. Sana ay ganoon din sila. The rule of law must always prevail,” Secretary Tugade instructed.
The high court issued on 05 December 2018 a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the preliminary injunction by the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court (RTC), thereby allowing government agencies to apprehend bikers and operators of the ride-hailing service, Angkas.
Under the Republic Act No. 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, two-wheel vehicles are banned from being used for hire.
Despite the SC order, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the LTFRB continue to receive reports of Angkas bikers’ unabated trips.
The DOTr strongly urges Angkas operators and bikers to adhere to the high court’s TRO, in the same manner that government agencies dutifully complied with the previous order by the Mandaluyong RTC, which sustained Angkas operations then.
Further, the DOTr warns that Angkas operations are, by law, colorum, and therefore do not provide any regulatory safeguard and accountability for commuter safety and welfare.
Angkas bikers and operators proven to have continued their service will be meted a P6,000 fine and three-month vehicle impound, and will be blacklisted from securing a franchise with the LTFRB.
Data from the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) shows that there have already been 5,105 motorcycle crashes nationwide – the highest for all modes of transportation – in the first 10 months of 2018.
Separate data from the Department of Health in 2017 also revealed that 65%, or 19,852 cases, of road accident victims were involved in motorcycle crashes.
Even as it works on providing alternative modes of public transport, the DOTr remains unequivocal that it will implement the full force of the law against colorum bikers who continue to defy the SC order.
“The price of a swift and cheap ride may be your life,” Secretary Tugade emphasized.
Angkas official statement on the the recently released SC TRO
We are saddened to hear that the Supreme Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on an earlier court decision allowing Angkas to operate.
This comes at a time when hundreds of thousands of commuters need the Angkas service to beat the worsening holiday traffic.
This TRO also puts the livelihood of 25,000 biker-partners at risk a few days before Christmas, when their families need it the most.
We offer our safety record of 99.97% as a potential model for responsible traffic safety nationwide.
We will continue our fight to serve commuters in a safe and efficient manner, as well as legitimizing our riders.
We are hopeful that the Supreme Court will eventually rule in favor of the Filipino riding public.
David Medrana
Head of Operations, Angkas