Transport group files P5M damage suit vs Nograles
A TRANSPORT group has filed a P5-million damage suit against Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party-list Rep. Jericho Jonas B. Nograles for his actions that supposedly led to the suspension of Grab Philippines’ (MyTaxi.PH, Inc.) P2 per minute charge.
In a statement on Monday, TNVS Drivers United said the Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) drivers are the ones taking the hit from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)’s suspension of the P2 per minute fare component of Grab.
“Ngayon po, gumagawa na kami ng legal na hakbang para ipakitang hindi po kami magpapasindak sa mga pulitikong susubok sa aming pagkakaisa na mga TNVS drivers. Ikaw ang puno’t dulo ng paghihirap namin Congressman Nograles (We are now taking legal action to show that we won’t back down from politicians who threaten the unity of TNVS drivers. You are the root cause of out sufferings, Congressman Nograles),” the group said.
Mr. Nograles, in response to the charges filed before the San Mateo Regional Trial Court, said it is “nothing more than an act of desperation in retaliation to the recent LTFRB Order declaring the charges of Grab Philippines as illegal.”
The lawmaker also accused Grab of being behind the lawsuit.
“I call on the LTFRB to demand that Grab refund the Billions of Pesos in illegal charges, as ordered and without any further delay,” he added.
Grab, on the other hand, denied the accusation, saying it had no hand on the court case.
“Grab did not file this lawsuit against Rep. Nograles. Apparently, the lawsuit was filed by TNVS drivers who were greatly affected by the removal of the P2/minute fare component,” the ride-hailing firm said.
LTFRB suspended Grab’s P2 per minute charge on April 19 as a response to accusations from Mr. Nograles that the company is overcharging its customers.
Grab filed a petition in May to reinstate the fare component, but the LTFRB has yet to decide on the case.— Denise A. Valdez
DoJ warns against online site posing as gov’t procurement agency
THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DoJ) has issued a warning against the Web site www.philippinesprojectawardcommission.info, which claims to be the “central procurement agency of the Philippine Government.”
The DoJ-Office of Cybercrime (DoJ-OOC), in a statement released Monday, said the site, already inaccesible as of yesterday, is posing as the Philippines Project Award Commission (PPAC) and its supposed authorized agents, Champs Court Business Consulting Agency Services, aim to defraud the public.
The DoJ-OOC said PPAC, through its site, “illegally conducts online public bidding, solicits money from foreign entities, and issues fake official receipts purportedly emanating from the Philippine government agencies,” among other fraudulent activities.
PPAC claims on its site that “The Commission may, by law, do anything to enter any transaction which it considers necessary or desirable for the proper performance of its functions.”
DoJ-OOC said the PPAC is not recognized by the government nor is it legally registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“The general public is hereby advised to exercise extraordinary caution in conducting online transactions so as not to unwittingly fall prey to such other similar fake websites,” the DoJ said. — Gillian M. Cortez
