Court denies group’s bid to extend TRO on Uber, GrabCar permits
The Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QCRTC) Branch 84 denied the bid of transport group Angat Tsuper Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator ng Pilipinas Genuine Organization (Stop and Go) to extend the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the QCRTC Branch 217 that stopped the acceptance, processing and approving of permit applications for Uber and GrabCar operations.
In its order issued Friday, QCRTC Branch 84 Judge Luisito Cortez said that the 20-day TRO issued by QCRTC Branch 217 is non-extendable.
“The order automatically terminates at the end of such period without the need of any judicial declaration to that effect and the courts have no discretion to extend the same,” the court said in its order.
The court also refused to grant the request of Stop and Go to interpret the restraining order issued by a co-equal court saying it finds it “illogical.”
READ: QC Court stands by TRO on Uber, GrabCar permits
The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has already resumed accepting and processing applications for transportation network vehicle service (TNVS).
Last year, the QCRTC Branch 217’s order has sown confusion after it issued a TRO against the implementation of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Department Order No. 2015-11 which allows the operation of new mode of transport including the TNVS.
However, Judge Santiago Arenas clarified that the TRO only covers new applications but not the existing Uber and Grab operators.
Eventually, Arenas inhibited from the case and it was re-raffled to Judge Luisito Cortez.
Cortez agreed with the position of the government that the restraining order can no longer be extended.
READ: QC court not likely to extend halt order vs Uber, Grab
The Office of the Solicitor General noted that the jurisprudence prohibits it citing the Supreme Court ruling in the case of Lago against a Gingoog RTC judge. RAM
