A GROUP of deactivated Grab hatchback drivers and a labor group will file a class suit on Friday against the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for its policy on hatchback vehicles. “Kinukumpleto namin ‘yung mga kailangan na dokumento para magkaroon ng kaukulang permit or provisional authority. Pagdating sa Step 1 pa lang, e-evaluate nila ‘yung papel at kapag nakita nila na hatchback, papaalisin ka na. Ganun lang po, walang paliwanag,” said Leonardo V. De Leon, Jr., Hatchback Community President during a press briefing in Quezon City on Thursday, June 20. (We are already completing the documents required to have a permit or provisional authority to operate. However, as they evaluate your paper in Step 1, they will reject your application if they see that you are driving a hatchback. Just like that, no explanation). Last week, ride-hailing giant Grab Philippines deactivated 8,000 vehicles, including hatchbacks, for not submitting any proof that they were granted provisional authority by LTFRB. Hatchback Community, which has 1,225 drivers removed from the Grab platform, and Defend Job Philippines will file the complaint before the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City. They will be assisted by Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection. Sought for a comment, Grab Philippines said, “To clarify, we are limited by the regulations that we need to abide by. If a TNVS has no proper docs, regardless if the vehicle is HBs (Hatchbacks) or Sedan, we can no longer allow on our platform. But do we support plight of the HBs? Yes, we do.” — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR