MANILA – Transportation secretary Arthur Tugade on Monday reiterated that Angkas motorcyclists should not be offering their services because a Supreme Court decision halting the ride-hailing service’s operations was in effect.
“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,” Tugade said.
On Dec. 5, the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the implementation of a Mandaluyong judge’s directive for the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) not to interfere with Angkas operations.
The Department of Transportation and the LTFRB, however, received reports that Angkas bikers continued to make trips despite of the order.
“Noong naglabas ng TRO ang korte laban sa DOTr, sumunod kami. Sana ay ganoon din sila. The rule of law must always prevail,” Tugade added.
The DOTr underscored that Angkas operations were considered illegal under the law because Republic Act No. 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code stated that two-wheeled vehicles were banned from being used for hire.
Violators would face a fine of P6,000, would have their vehicles impounded for three months, and would be blacklisted from securing a franchise with the LTFRB.
Tugade also discouraged the use of motorcycles as a mode of public transport, citing data from the Philippine National Police’s Highway Patrol Group which showed that 5,105 motorcycle crashes were recorded nationwide for the first 10 months of 2018. (GMA News)
