MANILA, Philippines — Motorcycle ride-hailing company Angkas is eyeing legal action against the Skyway O&M Corporation (SOMCO) for barring motorcycles with engine displacements below 400 cubic centimeters (cc) from using Osmeña Highway.
Angkas said that starting Monday, July 22, sub-400cc motorcycles were barred by SOMCO from plying the northbound portion of Osmeña Highway from Sales Bridge in Pasay City. Small motorcycles are instead diverted to the Pasong Tamo Extension, Angkas said.
Ariel Inton, president of the Lawyers for Commuters’ Safety and Protection who is representing Angkas, said it is giving SOMCO a week to lift the ban or Angkas will be filing criminal and civil charges against them.
“We are giving you (SOMCO) a week para bawiin itong so-called ban ninyo or else we will be filing a case against SOMCO,” Inton said in a press conference in Intramuros, Manila.
“We will seek legal remedies both criminal and civil,” he added.
Should SOMCO fail to take back their ban, Inton said Angkas, or the Motorcycle Rights Organization (MRO), will petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) or an injunction against the company.
“Siguro it will be Angkas that will be the petitioner for a class suit or the MRO as petitioner. So maraming pwedeng maging petitioner doon,” Inton said.
He added that they are also considering the filing of a civil case against SOMCO for the damages inflicted by the ban on riders and commuters.
“We are open also for a civil case for damages against the corporation kasi maraming naabala dyan and all their corporate officers pwedeng i-include sila in this civil suit,” he said.
Angkas Regulatory and Public Affairs head George Royeca said the small motorcycle ban will affect a lot of commuters that depend on the Osmeña Highway. He added that their riders will have to take detours that are usually experiencing heavy traffic.
“What’s worse is that the ban also affects commuters who will have to go the longer way, resulting in a longer travel time and higher fares,” Royeca said in the press conference.
Angkas Operations Manager David Medrana noted that there are currently 27,000 Angkas riders, mostly based in Metro Manila, who have motorcycles that range from 100cc to 200cc. /muf