Government law enforcement agents have apprehended several motorcycle taxi riders who are illegally operating in Metro Manila yesterday. These law enforcers were comprised of officers from the Land Transportation Office-Philippines (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG), Local Police Officers, and the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (I-ACT).
In this latest anti-colorum operation, “mystery passengers” or undercover law enforcement agents booked rides from different motorcycle taxi-hailing apps. They apprehended a total of 5 Angkas riders, whose names were not on the accredited master list submitted by Angkas, as well as 2 riders identified as Sampa, which is an operator not included in the MC Taxi Pilot Study.
For the Pilot Study that will run until March 2020, only three motorcycle transport network companies (TNCs) are permitted to operate: Angkas, Move It, and JoyRide.
“Those who will insist to operate in the guise of a participant of the study and are not registered in the master list will be apprehended as colorum. We will not have second thoughts to penalize those who defy the authority. I also appeal to our participating players to please register your participants with the TWG and submit a daily ridership report,” TWG Chairman Antonio Gardiola, Jr. said.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, likewise denounced the recent violations of unauthorized riders taking part in the pilot study on motorcycle taxis.
“The TWG and the players in the pilot study have been working hard to push for its smooth implementation. ‘Wag kayong makisawsaw sa maayos na pamamalakad sa pag-aaral (Do not ruin the pilot study). Do not make livelihood as an excuse to put the lives of our riding public in jeopardy,” Secretary Tugade warned.
The TWG likewise issued a stern warning for the three TNCs participating in the study to strictly comply with safety protocols in serving the riding public. TWG Chairman Gardiola specifically pointed out that mystery passengers will be regularly deployed to verify motorcycle classification and documents and check if riders are equipped with the proper safety gears as required.
