Public transportation in the Philippines is frequently cited as one of the worst in the world. Common issues include smoke belching jeepneys, overcharging tricycles, air-conditioned buses with malfunctioning cooling systems, out-of-service trains, and rude or overcharging taxi drivers.

Consequently, many who can afford a “better” public transport alternative turn to Transportation Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) providers via their respective apps. Unfortunately, as two inDrive passengers in Manila recently experienced, even this option appears to be becoming unsafe.

Just recently, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) issued a show cause order to an InDrive-accredited driver who allegedly threatened passengers with a bladed weapon over a misunderstanding about their destination.

Acting Assistant Secretary and LTO Chief, Atty. Greg Pua, Jr., deemed the driver’s behavior, captured in a viral social media video, “unacceptable” and requiring immediate action, particularly given the threat with a bladed weapon.

“This driver has entered the wrong profession. He is looking for trouble and legal cases, not a livelihood,” said Atty. Pua.

To prevent further dangerous acts, the LTO has suspended the driver’s license for 90 days and ordered the vehicle to be placed under alarm. The driver has been directed to explain why his license should not be permanently revoked. He also faces charges of Reckless Driving under Section 48 of R.A. 4136 and Being an Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle under Section 27(a) of R.A. 4136.

Driver ‘MIA’

In an interview with GMA 7’s SAKSI, inDrive’s Country Government Relations Manager, John Louie Balagot, said that they’ve been trying to reach the driver involved in the incident, but he is ‘missing in action’.

“It’s saddening, because we have been trying to contact the driver since we learned about the incident, but he is not answering,” said Balagot.

“Every time someone reports, the government’s action here is automatic. The LTO [and] LTFRB don’t even have to tell me. I have given them authority to just do it,” said Transportation Secretary, Vince Dizon, emphasizing that the suspension or even revocation of driver’s licenses would be swiftly implemented for incidents of this nature.

The registered owner of the vehicle also received a show cause order, requiring an explanation as to why they should not be held liable for Employing a Reckless Driver under Paragraph 7, Title IV of DOTC Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01.

Initial investigations based on the viral video indicate the driver threatened his passengers with a bladed weapon, after allegedly forcing them to disembark far from the pinned location on the inDrive app. The complainant’s social media post narrated that the inDrive driver allegedly forced them to alight before brandishing a knife and threatening to stab them.