Grab drivers seek P5M in damages from solon

A group of Grab drivers on Monday filed a P5-million damage suit against PBA party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles, accusing him of harming their livelihood, after his allegations about the ride-hailing app’s P2-per-minute travel rate prompted the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to suspend the charging of the fee.

In a 10-page complaint lodged in the San Mateo Regional Trial Court, around 150 drivers of the transport network company (TNC) led by Winson Estares blamed Nograles for the suspension of the travel charge which they said affected their daily
income.

Most of the complainants were overseas workers who relied on Grab as their primary means of livelihood and even sold pieces of land to pay for the amortization of their vehicles, the petition read.

Sensationalized issue

“It is clear that [Nograles] only rode on the coattails of this sensationalized issue to make himself popular with the public,” the group said.

In February, Nograles accused Grab of illegally charging passengers the travel fee with the TNC insisting it was allowed to unilaterally impose the rate under the now-rescinded Department Order No. 2015-13.

But in June, the LTFRB ordered Grab to pay a P10-million fine as it ruled that it was the only agency allowed to set and regulate fares.

In a statement, Nograles said the complaint was nothing more than an act of desperation and insinuated that Grab itself was behind the suit. Grab spokesperson Leo Gonzales, however, denied his allegation.