Sorry, Angkas fans but it looks like you won’t be riding on those motorbikes anytime soon.
The Supreme Court (SC) has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against a Mandaluyong City court order which allowed ride-hailing app Angkas to operate after it was suspended by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTRFB) in November last year.
Copies of the Dec. 5 TRO was obtained earlier today by the media.
In light of the TRO, the Department of Transport (DOTr) said that the LTRFB will order its sheriffs to arrest Angkas drivers who are seen operating in the city’s roads, reported Rappler. The LTFRB will also order Angkas to cease operations.
The SC’s resolution issued this month reads: “The Court (SC), without necessarily giving due course thereto, resolves to issue a temporary restraining order, effective immediately and continuing until further orders from this Court, enjoining public respondent Judge Carlos A. Valenzuela, RTC, Br.213, Mandaluyong City, the private respondent (Angkas), their agents, representatives and anyone acting on their behalf, from implementing the assailed RTC Order dated 20 August 2018.”
In September, Mandaluyong City Judge Carlos Valenzuela issued a preliminary injunction which stopped the LTFRB and DOTr “from interfering” with Angkas’ operations.
Angkas sought the injunction because in Nov. 2017 the LTRFB suspended Angkas’ operations, reported Rappler.
According to GMA News, the LTFRB considers the service that Angkas provides a form of public service and should be subject to government regulation.
The LTFRB wants Angkas to first seek a franchise from Congress before it could operate, reported Manila Bulletin.
The SC’s decision was met with disappointment. One netizen said that all that the LTFRB has been doing has been “anti-commuter.”
i honestly wouldn’t be too upset with ltfrb closing angkas again if they were actually developing solutions to fix the shit state of public transportation in this country, but they aren’t. everything they’ve been doing is anti-commuter and just shows how out of touch they are…
— R 💁🎄 (@_DarthRafa) December 12, 2018
@minchin143 wrote: “This is complete BS!!! #Angkas is such a great help for commuters like me. Less hassle when dealing with the traffic and convenient for people working in the graveyard shift.”
This is complete BS!!! #Angkas is such a great help for commuters like me. Less hassle sa traffic and convenient for people working in the graveyard shift. https://t.co/K1jVL3Y7n7
— Mich (@minchin143) December 12, 2018
Another netizen couldn’t hide his anger towards the LTFRB. @javichips wrote: “Why did you suspend Angkas huh? What’s your problem LTFRB?”
WHY DID YOU SUSPEND @angkas HUH? ANO PROBLEMA NYO @LTFRB
— Javier Lobregat (@javichips) December 12, 2018
@whippedforloey wrote: “Angkas will soon shut down again. I don’t know what to do with this administration anymore. It would have been good if they’ll give the commuters a good option for a ride or an easy access for it, but no.”
Dahil di ako makapagrant sa main acct ko, dito nalang.
Angkas will soon shut down again. Idk what to do with this administration anymore, buti sana kung they’ll give the commuters a good option for ride or an easy access for it, BUT NO EH.
— thelly is yeol’s girl 💎 (@whippedforloey) December 12, 2018
Many Filipinos have to rely on public transport but many of the ones offered aren’t reliable.
Angkas is a favorite of many because people could easily arrive at their destinations despite the traffic.
What do you think of Angkas’ suspension? Leave a comment below or tweet to @CoconutsManila.
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