Uber driver charged with rape 22-year-old female passenger

For thousands of urbanites who think they’ve found the safest and most convenient way to get around Metro Manila, this is shocking news. 

An Uber driver allegedly raped a 22-year-old female passenger along Katipunan Avenue on Wed afternoon, police said on Fri. 

According to a report filed in the Quezon City Police District, the driver of a red Toyota Vios picked up the passenger in Camp Crame at around 2:30pm. 

Somewhere near UP Town Center, the driver allegedly embraced the victim and forced her to hold his genitals. The suspect also allegedly forced the victim to perform oral sex, but she was able to escape, Inquirer reports. 

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has called officials of Uber System Inc. to a hearing on Aug 10.

The frustrating part? Board member Ariel Inton noted that Uber “doesn’t give the real identity of their ‘peers’ or driver/operator” as it invokes its privacy policy.

Yes, they won’t reveal the identity of the driver even if a rape complaint has already been filed. 

“It has come to our attention that Uber does not disclose the name of the driver or any of its details to their passenger. When a crime is committed, it would be very hard for the victim to file a case because no detail with regard to the perpetrator is provided,” Inton said in a statement.

For its part, Uber said that it has already removed the driver from its platform. 

“First and foremost our thoughts are with the rider and her family. We immediately removed the driver from the Uber platform when we learned of the reported incident and are cooperating fully with law enforcement in their ongoing investigation and stand ready to assist them in every way we can,” the company said.

Philippine Star has identified the suspect, who was driving the vehicle with license plate ARA-3101. LTFRB’s Inton said the agency will order the driver to attend a hearing next week.