Transport groups file complaint vs Uber for operating as ‘colorum’
Transport groups on Wednesday filed before the Quezon City Prosecutors Office a complaint against transport network company (TNC) Uber for operating as “colorum,” or without proper documents.
Based on the complaint, Uber has accredited 74,687 vehicles but only 21,353 have been authorized by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), meaning out of the more than 74,000 accredited by Uber, 53,334 as colorum.
Complainants also noted that LTFRB already ordered Uber to suspend accepting applications for additional vehicles, but still, Uber continued to accept new applicants.
They added that, despite LTFRB’s order suspending Uber’s operation, it continued with its operation, citing the experience of a certain Kenneth Lugtu who managed to book Uber services on Aug. 15, a day after the LTFRB ordered its suspension.
“These vehicles were operating without a valid authority from the LTFRB, thus colorum…Respondents [Uber officials], as officers and members of the Board of Director of Uber, knowingly and willfully violated the orders of the LTFRB, and consented and approved their company’s illegal activity of operating vehicles as public utilities without the proper and valid authority coming from the LTFRB, otherwise known as ‘colorum’ activities,” complainants said.
Complainants include:
- Vigor Mendoza II, chairman of the Kilusan sa Pagbabago ng Industriya ng Transportasyon
- Melencio “Boy” Vargas of the Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines
- Zenaida Maranan, president of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations of the Philippines (Fejodap)
- Efren de Luna, president of the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (Acto)
- Roberto Martin, president of Pasang Masda
- Orlando Marquez of the Liga ng Transportasyon at Opereytor sa Pilipinas
- Fermin Octobre of the Drivers Unite for Mass Progress Equality and Reality (Dumper)
Complainants said they were not against Uber but against its stance “of wanting to be above the law.”
“Operating more than 50,000 colorum vehicles sets a dangerous precedent, and if not stopped would wreck havoc to the country’s transport plans and programs, specifically the Modernization Program, which aims to enhance transport service and uplift the lives of transport workers,” the complaints said.
“If Uber can get away with this, then all other modes of transport service might as well forget their franchise and just operate as colorum, just like Uber,” they added. /atm
