Motorcycle ride-hailing application “Angkas” has appealed to the Supreme Court to recall its temporary restraining order and allow its services to continue.
In a comment, Angkas operator DBDOYC Inc. pleaded to the SC to lift the TRO issued by its second division on Dec. 5 that effectively halted its services and allowed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to proceed with its crackdown on the popular app-based service.
The company also sought the dismissal of the petition of LTFRB and Department of Transportation challenging the writ of preliminary injunction issued by a Mandaluyong regional trial court last August, which stopped the government's apprehension of Angkas riders.
Instead, it urged the high court to affirm the injunction order of the RTC that prohibited the government's transport agencies “from interfering, whether directly or indirectly” with Angkas' operations.
The RTC order prevented authorities “from apprehending Angkas bikers who are in lawful pursuit of their trade or occupation based on petitioner’s Angkas mobile application; and from performing any act or acts that will impede, obstruct, frustrate, or defeat [the] petitioner’s pursuit of its lawful business or trade as owner and operator of the Angkas mobile application.”
In a statement, Angkas took back its earlier statement that it would continue with its operations despite the TRO issued by SC, saying there was no ruling yet declaring its services as illegal.
“We will comply with the TRO, and we will not prevent the LTFRB from apprehending our bikers. But we will give assistance to our bikers under the confines of the law,” Angkas spokesman George Royeca said.
“In fact, we have instructed our bikers to comply with the authorities should they be apprehended and always be courteous and respectful of the officers,” he said.
In the assailed RTC order, Judge Valenzuela directed LTFRB and DoTR from interfering with Angkas’ operations pending the hearing and resolution of DBDOYC Inc.'s petition for declaratory relief.
The court order also prohibited the apprehension of Angkas bikers when they are in “lawful pursuit of their work.”
The LTFRB stopped the operations of Angkas in November last year due to lack of necessary franchise to operate.
It said that the operator should secure a franchise from Congress to operate as a public utility vehicle under the Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.