‘Angkas’ driver nabbed

A female Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) official led the arrest of a driver of an illegal motorcycle transport service after she booked a ride through the “Angkas” app.

Lawyer Aileen Lourdes Lizada, LTFRB board member and spokesperson, booked a ride as part of the board’s operation against “habal-habal” or colorum operations of motorcycles.

Lizada rode the habal-habal at McKinley Hill in Taguig City and alighted at 5th Avenue in Bonifacio Global City where the driver was apprehended by waiting operatives.

The LTFRB spokesperson said the operations of “Angkas” is illegal since it has no franchise to lawfully operate.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Highway Patrol Group (HPG) were part of the team that conducted the operation against illegal transport vehicle services.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) reiterated that app-based transportation service Angkas has no legal authority to operate in the country.

DOTr Undersecretary Thomas Orbos said that the mere fact that Angkas does not have the franchise to function as a public transport system makes its operation illegal.

Angkas operates as a public transport using motorcycles to ferry commuters. (Chito A. Chavez)