Angkas hoping for favorable decision from SC

Motorbike-hailing service Angkas said it was hopeful that the Supreme Court would consider the plight of the Filipino commuters, and favor its petition asking that the high tribunal its riders be allowed to serve the riding public anew.

"We are hopeful that the SC will find merit in our case. I hope that the SC will really favor the Filipino riding public," George Royeca, Angkas head of regulatory and public affairs said in a press conference prior to a thanksgiving concert they organized Saturday night.

Some lawmakers and government officials recently threw their support for Angkas, including congressmen Winston Castelo, Cristal Bagatsing, Rodel Batocabe, Johnny Pimental, Xavier Jesus Romualdo, and Cebu Mayor Tomas Osmeña who all issued statements in favor of the continued operation of the company considering the "sorry state" of mass transport in the country today and the benefits that the service has been providing local commuters.

“We have received tremendous support from our customers and from the general public and we are truly grateful about this,” Royeca added.

The High Court issued earlier this month a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the preliminary injunction by a local court which allowed government agencies to apprehend Angkas riders again.

While Angkas said it will comply with the TRO, it said that its transport service will continue to operate but they would offer legal assistance to bikers who will be apprehended.

Angkas also welcomed the recent order of the Transportation secretary Arthur Tugade to create a technical working group to discuss issues covered by the use of motorcycles as a mode of public transportation while waiting for the ruling of the SC on the operation of two-wheeled vehicles such as motorcycle-taxis.