Grab driver sues passenger for beating

MANILA, Philippines — A Grab driver yesterday filed a complaint for serious physical injuries against his passenger who allegedly beat him up for returning a cell phone the passenger forgot.

Armando Yabut, 30, filed the case against Jinno John Simon before the city prosecutor’s office.

Yabut said Simon beat him up after he returned the cell phone that the suspect left in his car following a ride at around 2:30 a.m. last Friday.

He told police that he picked up Simon at a mall in Makati. Simon asked if he could charge his phone in the car before Yabut dropped him off along Judge Jimenez street in Barangay Kamuning. 

Ariel Inton, from the Lawyers for Commuter Protection and Safety which will represent Yabut, said Simon allegedly called Yabut a robber while choking and beating him up before police responded to the scene. 

Inton said they are filing charges to teach Simon a “hard lesson” to respect public utility vehicle drivers.