Supreme Court stops Angkas operations anew

LTFRB, DOTr allowed to arrest riders

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) stopping anew the operations of the motorcycle ride-sharing app Angkas.

In a two-page order issued on Dec. 5, the high court’s Second Division granted the petition filed by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and Department of Transportation (DOTr), which sought to stop the services of Angkas for lack of franchise to operate.

The SC order allowed the LTFRB and DOTr to apprehend Angkas riders.

The TRO stopped the implementation of an order issued by Judge Carlos Valenzuela of the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 213 on Aug. 20, which prevented the  LTFRB and DOTr from arresting drivers of Angkas.

“The court, without giving due course thereto, resolves to issue a TRO effective immediately, enjoining public respondent Judge Carlos Valenzuela, Angkas operator DBDOYC Inc. and its agents from implementing the RTC order,” read the notice of resolution signed by SC clerk of court Edgar Aricheta.

The operator of Angkas was ordered to submit its answer to the petition of the transport authorities within 10 days.

In the assailed RTC order, Valenzuela directed the LTFRB and DOTr to stop interfering with Angkas’ operations pending the resolution of DBDOYC’s petition for declaratory relief.

In November last year, Angkas ceased its operations after the LTFRB and the Makati city government shuttered its main training center.

The LTFRB has rejected negotiations with Angkas, saying the company should talk to Congress if they wanted to be granted authority to operate as a public utility vehicle under Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.

The DOTr and the LTFRB welcomed the SC ruling.

“We thanked the high court for issuing the TRO, as it is in line with our efforts to prioritize the safety of the riding public through proper implementation of the law,” the agencies said in a statement.

Under the law, the government maintained that motorcycles are not authorized to conduct business and offer public transport.

“The safety of commuters are put at risk as motorcycles are not considered a safe mode of transportation,” the LTFRB  said. – With Emmanuel Tupas