By Benjamin Pulta/PNA
MANILA — Motorcycle ride-hailing firm Angkas asked the Supreme Court (SC) to reconsider its earlier decision and allow it to continue its operations.
In a comment filed before the High Court Thursday, DBDOYC Inc., Angkas’ mother firm urged the SC to lift the restraining order (TRO) issued by its second division last December 5.
The TRO had been granted upon the request of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
The LTFRB stopped the operations of Angkas in November last year due to lack of necessary franchise to operate and ruled that the operator should secure franchise from Congress to operate as a public utility vehicle under the Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.
The company also sought the dismissal of the petition of LTFRB and Department of Transportation challenging the writ of preliminary injunction issued by the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court (RTC) last August which stopped the government’s apprehension of Angkas riders.
It asked the SC to instead affirm the injunction order of the lower court that prohibited the government’s transport agencies “from interfering, whether directly or indirectly” with Angkas’ operations.
The Mandaluyong RTC order prevented authorities “from apprehending Angkas bikers who are in lawful pursuit of their trade or occupation based on petitioner’s Angkas mobile application; and from performing any act or acts that will impede, obstruct, frustrate, or defeat [the] petitioner’s pursuit of its lawful business or trade as owner and operator of the Angkas mobile application.”
