Uber driver charged with rape

MANILA, Philippines - A 22-year-old woman was allegedly raped by an Uber driver in his vehicle in Quezon City on Wednesday afternoon, police said yesterday.

The suspect, identified only as Xstian Karlou John Marie, picked up the woman at Camp Crame and was supposed to bring her to Katipunan Avenue, said Police Officer 2 Charito Desmaya, case investigator.

Marie reportedly embraced the woman, forced her to hold his genitals, then pulled her hair and forced her to perform oral sex on him until she escaped, Desmaya said.

The rape allegedly happened while the vehicle, with license plate number ARA-3101, was along Katipunan Avenue at around 2:30 p.m., Desmaya said.

LTFRB mulls revoking franchise

Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) wants Uber to explain why its franchise should not be cancelled after one of its drivers allegedly raped a passenger.

LTFRB member Ariel Inton said the agency will order Marie to attend a hearing next week.

Inton said that they are now conducting an investigation to determine the whereabouts of the driver, who is at large.

Uber, in a statement issued yesterday, said the driver has been removed from its platform.

No additional details on the driver’s identity was released but the firm assured the public it will cooperate with law enforcement agencies.