TWG defends Pimentel, hits Angkas

RECRUITMENT FOR RIDERS Motorcycle drivers try their luck at a mass registration event organized for ride-hailing apps JoyRide and MoveIt at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila. Only JoyRide, however, joined the activity. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III’s endorsement of JoyRide had “no bearing” on its decision to include the transport network company (TNC) in the pilot test for motorcycle taxis, the interagency technical working group (TWG) overseeing the study said.

In a statement issued on Saturday night, the TWG also accused advocacy group Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection (LCSP) of kowtowing to the interests of ride-hailing service Angkas rather than average commuters.

LCSP condemned the TWG in a press conference on Friday for alleged “irregularities” and threatened to file charges against its members. The group had also asked a Quezon City court last month to stop five TNCs, including JoyRide, from joining the pilot test.

“The TWG will not be deterred by threats of lawsuits and charges of corruption,” it said in a statement on Facebook. “It will continue to discharge its function as mandated by the government, and ensure that the only interest it will uphold and serve is public interest.”

Its statement first pushed back against allegations that Pimentel had improperly interfered on behalf of JoyRide, saying that interested TNCs were all subjected to “a strict inspection and deliberation process.”

“We, therefore, find it deplorable that the LCSP would resort to a politically motivated deflection of the real issue confronting the program, and will even drag a senator into the fray,” it added.

Still illegal

Motorcycle taxis are still illegal under current transportation laws, and the TWG is running the pilot study to determine their safety and viability as a means of public transportation. JoyRide and MoveIt joined Angkas, previously the sole player in the study, this year.

This second phase of the test has been mired in controversy after the TWG capped the number of drivers Angkas could deploy at 10,000, compared to 27,000 riders in 2019. New player JoyRide has also been hounded by allegations that administration politicians have a stake in the company.

“Let it be clear that with or without any endorsement letter, the TWG has been fairly dealing with how best to make the motorcycle taxi service pilot run reflective of the needs of the commuter, and how it can be a transformational public transportation alternative,” the TWG said.

After defending Pimentel, the TWG then trained its ire on LCSP and Angkas, asking whether senators who had similarly advocated on its behalf should be “imputed with influence-peddling and favoring Angkas as well.”

The TWG then accused LCSP of representing Angkas’ interests and not commuters.

Vague allegations

“Angkas, using the LCSP, is trying to paint a picture that the TWG is involved in corruption in the conduct of the extended study on the viability and safety of motorcycles as taxis, citing vague allegations of ‘serious irregularities’ in the selection of new participants,” it said.

The TWG, headed by retired Police Maj. Gen. Antonio Gardiola Jr., also alleged that Securities and Exchange Commission records showed Angkas was 99.996-percent owned by a Singaporean, Angeline Xiwen Tham.

Philippine law requires that common carriers be at least 60-percent owned by Filipinos.

It also listed other purported instances that allegedly proved Angkas was a serial violator of the law, including conducting business outside the designated pilot run areas, failing to require that passengers wear helmets and collecting disallowed surge fees.