Arrest defiant Angkas riders, Tugade orders

Angkas bikers who deliberately defy the order of the Supreme Court (SC) will be apprehended and sanctioned.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade issued the warning as he ordered the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to strengthen its crackdown against defiant Angkas drivers.

“Arrest all Angkas riders who will violate [the law]. It is not right that Angkas will violate the law and the order from the SC. That is wrong. When the court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against DOTr (Department of Transportation), we heed. We hope that they will follow, too. The rule of law must always prevail,” Tugade said.

Last December 5, the Supreme Court issued a TRO against the preliminary injunction earlier issued by the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court (RTC), thus allowing government agencies to apprehend bikers and operators of the motorcyclehailing company.

Despite the SC order, Angkas had earlier said its transportation service will continue to operate.

“The DOTr strongly urges Angkas operators and bikers to adhere to the high court’s TRO, in the same manner that government agencies dutifully complied with the previous order by the Mandaluyong RTC, which sustained Angkas operations then,” the DOTr said in a statement

Apart from this, transport regulators warned the riding public that Angkas operations are “by law, colorum, and therefore do not provide any regulatory safeguard and accountability for commuter safety and welfare.”

Tugade said Angkas bikers and operators found to be continuing their service will be meted a P6,000 fine, their vehicle will be impounded for three months, and will be blacklisted from securing a franchise with the LTFRB.

Meanwhile, George Royeca, head of regulatory and public affairs of Angkas, has assured they will be extending legal assistance to its bikers that will be apprehended.

Once an Angkas biker is apprehended, Royeca said the first thing he should do is to call the motorcycle-hailing company

Royeca also said Tuesday that they already filed before the SC their comment on the order and an urgent motion to lift the TRO.