SC stops Angkas operation anew, OKs LTFRB’s power to apprehend riders

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board the authority to apprehend riders of motorcycle-taxi app Angkas anew.

On December 5, the high court’s Second Division issued a resolution granting the LTFRB a temporary restraining order against an earlier court ruling that gave DBDOYC Inc. or Angkas green light to operate.

“The Court, without necessarily giving due course thereto resolves to: Issue a temporary restraining order, effective immediately and continuing until further orders from this court,” the SC said in its two page-ruling, released on Wednesday.

The SC also required the respondents to file a comment into the petition and not to file motion to dismiss within ten days after it received the resolution.

Aside from this, the high tribunal asked the petitioners to fully comply with the court rules by paying P1,000 for the sheriff’s trust fund, submit legible duplicate original or certified true copy pf the assailed order dated August 20 within five days of notice.

The resolution was penned by En Banc clerk of court Edgar Aricheta.

Last August 20, Judge Carlos Valenzuela of the Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court Branch 213 issued a writ of preliminary injunction in favor of Angkas, thereby allowing the motorcycle-hailing application to operate temporarily.

The order was only released early September and asked the LTFRB, the Department of Transportation and its agencies to stop interfering with Angkas’ operations pending the hearing for its main petition of declaratory relief.

It also prohibited the LTFRB from apprehending Angkas bikers.

The LTFRB then filed a petition for certiorari requesting TRO and/or writ of preliminary injunction to assail the August 20 order.

Angkas stopped its operations in November last year after the LTFRB and the Makati City government shut down its main training center.

The LTFRB earlier asked Angkas to seek authority from the House of Representatives to operate as a public utility vehicle under the Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.