THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has launched an investigation into an alleged robbery and sexual assault committed against a Vietnamese by a Grab driver and his cohort.
“First, we made a police report; we validated the truth and the facts of the case. Second, we have also written to the ride-hailing company to report what happened. And then number three, we reached out to the Vietnamese to get her side. We will definitely investigate, and then whoever is at fault will be held accountable,” LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III said on Wednesday.
He added the ride-hailing company has five days to reply to the inquiry, noting negligence on the firm’s side could result in sanctions or suspension of its app for at least 30 days.
LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz lll
“We can suspend their app for at least 30 days for the first offense if there is negligence, but we will do that as a matter of due process. After we get all the facts of the case, we can determine if they were negligent. Right now we are getting the data, and we have five days for the company to respond,” Guadiz said.
Initial report showed the Vietnamese booked a Grab ride on September 5 but was surprised when the driver allowed another passenger to board the vehicle.
The Vietnamese alleged that the second passenger took her P35,000 cash and mobile phone before sexually assaulting her inside the cab.
The driver, she said, dropped her off somewhere in Parañaque.
Police tracked down and arrested the Grab driver in Cabuyao, Laguna, on September 7, using CCTV footage of the vehicle. The victim’s mobile phone was found inside the cab, the police said.
Guadiz urged the public to make extra precautions when using ride-hailing apps by informing friends or relatives about the details of their trip.
“We urge the riding public to exercise caution when using ride-hailing apps. Always verify the driver’s identity, share your trip details with a trusted person, and stay alert throughout the journey to ensure your safety,” he said.
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