Sexual assault on car theft under investigation

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has launched an investigation into an alleged robbery and sexual assault of a Vietnamese man by a Grab driver and his accomplice.

“First, we made a police report, we confirmed the truth and the facts of the case. Second, we also wrote to the ride-hailing company to report what happened. And third, we contacted the Vietnamese woman to hear her side. We will definitely investigate and then whoever is at fault will be held accountable,” LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III said on Wednesday.

He added that the ride-sharing company has five days to respond to the request, noting that negligence on the part of the company could result in sanctions or a suspension of the app for at least 30 days.

LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz lll

“We can suspend their app for at least 30 days if it’s a first offense, if it’s negligence, but we’ll do that through due process. After we get all the facts of the case, we can determine if they were negligent. Right now, we get the data and the company has five days to respond,” Guadiz said.

Initial reports indicated that the Vietnamese man had booked a ride with Grab on September 5, but was surprised when the driver allowed another passenger to board the vehicle.

The Vietnamese claimed that the second passenger took P35,000 in cash and her mobile phone and then sexually assaulted her in the taxi.

She said the driver dropped her off somewhere in Parañaque.

Police were able to locate and arrest the Grab driver in Cabuyao, Laguna on September 7 based on surveillance footage of the vehicle. The victim’s cellphone was found in the taxi, police said.

Guadiz urged the public to be extra cautious when using ride-sharing apps and to inform friends or relatives about the details of their trip.

“We urge all passengers to be cautious when using ride-sharing apps. Always verify the identity of the driver, share your ride details with a trusted person and remain alert throughout the ride to ensure your safety,” he said.