LTFRB to issue show cause order vs TNVS driver over lewd remark on Xyriel Manabat
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said that it will issue a show-cause order against a transport network vehicle service driver who posted a lewd remark about Xyriel Manabat.
“Bukod po sa pagsuspinde ng TNC (Transport Network Company), ang LTFRB ay maglalabas din ng show-cause order po dito sa driver na ‘to,” LTFRB board member Greg Pua said in a briefing on Friday, April 10.
“Na-identify na po natin kung sino ‘yung driver, sino ‘yung operator. Within the day, we will issue the necessary show-cause order,” he added.
This came after a photo posted by the involved TNVS driver of himself with Manabat, who was his passenger that day, went viral.
"Ang LAKI ng bata na 'yan," he said in his deleted post. Many users called out his crude caption and subsequent remarks as inappropriate.
For their part, ride-hailing app Grab expressed their apologies to the actress, stressing that the incident was "deeply concerning and does not reflect the standards we uphold on the platform."
"Grab Philippines extends its sincere apology to Ms. Xyriel Manabat for the unacceptable experience she had with a driver. What was reported is deeply concerning and does not reflect the standards we uphold on the platform," it posted on X.
It added that the involved driver has been placed under preventive suspension and assured that it's prepared to fully cooperate with the authorities.
"Grab affirms that such behavior constitutes a grave violation and a bannable offense under our Driver Guidelines," it added.
"While all driver-partners on the Grab platform undergo mandatory safe spaces and anti-harassment training through Grab Academy and accredited partner organizations, we recognize that this incident demands more than a restatement of existing protocols," it continued.
"We are now undertaking a comprehensive review of our driver behavior protocols, including those governing post-trip conduct, and will introduce further safeguards to address any gaps this incident may have exposed," it added.
In an interview with the press, the actress said she plans to take action against the driver, stressing that such behavior should never be treated as a form of entertainment.
"It's never about the piece of clothing. Nakapantrabaho ako. Maayos ko siyang kinausap. As far as I can remember, ang bait bait ko sa kanya, nag-tip pa nga ata ako kasi nahiya ako 'pag may pinaghihintay akong tao," she said.
The actress said she is "never scared" to express her passion for protecting victims of harassment, regardless of gender or age.
"I'll be their voice and I'll use my platform wisely," she underscored. "There's nothing to be scared or to be afraid of. Nag-fuel siya ng reason for us to be more brave and for us to spread more awareness about this kind of topic."
