LTFRB summons driver who ‘body shamed’ passenger

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) yesterday summoned a jeepney driver over a body shaming incident, which went viral on social media.

The LTFRB issued a show-cause order against Double A Transport Corp. and the driver of the jeepney with license plate NWJ-221.

The jeepney operators, Flora Magtibay and Romeo Guerrero, as well as the driver were ordered to appear at the LTFRB hearing tomorrow to explain possible franchise violation.

The driver supposedly refused to allow a 29-year-old female passenger to board his jeepney because of her body weight.

The passenger said the driver also asked her to pay twice the normal fare and was ordered to get out of the jeepney for being overweight.

The driver even blamed her weight as the cause of his vehicle’s flat tires.

The transport operators may face complaints for employing a discourteous driver, failure to convey a passenger and violating the safe spaces in public transportation law.

The show-cause order was signed by the LTFRB on Monday afternoon.

LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz has ordered an investigation into the body shaming incident.

“I ordered (LTFRB) National Capital Region director Zona Tamayo to look into the incident,” Guadiz said in a message to The STAR. — Bella Cariaso