Mandaluyong RTC Junks Angkas Petition to Stop Revised Guidelines for MC Taxi Study

The petition of motorcycle taxi mobile app Angkas for another temporary restraining order on the issuance of a permanent injunction on the revised guideline implementation for the motorcycle taxi pilot implementation has been junked by a Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court. Based on the four-page order dated January 10, 2020, Mandaluyong City Branch 212 Judge Rizalina Capco-Umali dismissed the petition lodged against respondents DOTr and LTFRB for lack of merit. (See the full order below) [foogallery id="75145">   “Since the Petitioner’s application for issuance of injunctive writ involves prayer to enjoin the enforcement of Section 10 of Revised General Guidelines for the Pilot Implementation of Motorcycle Taxis, which is also the same action being sought in the main case of injunction, the court is mindful that as much as possible avoid issuing writ which would effectively dispose of the main case without trial and/or due process,” the order stated. Section 10 of the of Revised General Guidelines for the Pilot Implementation of Motorcycle Taxis states that a total of 30,000 riders for Metro Manila and 9,000 riders for Metro Cebu shall form part of the pilot implementation of motorcycle taxis, wherein the number of riders will be divided evenly among qualified Ride Hailing Platform Providers. As such, the TWG for motorcycle taxi said that under the revised guidelines, which took effect on January 6, 2020, the number of Angkas accredited riders was slashed from 27,000 to 10,000 to accommodate the entry of riders from Move-It and Joy Ride. Based on the said guidelines, each of the three motorcycle taxi providers are entitled to have 10,000 riders each. The court also ruled that the respondents in the petition, the DOTr and the LTFRB, have in their favor, the presumption of regularity in the performance of official duties, which Angkas had failed to rebut by way of convincing evidence. “The presumption of regularity of official acts may be rebutted by affirmative evidence or irregularity or failure to perform a duty. The presumption, however, prevails until it is overcome by no less than clear and convincing evidence to the contrary. Thus, unless the presumption is rebutted, it becomes conclusive,” the court noted in the order. Earlier, Angkas filed a Petition for Injunction with application for the issuance of a 72-hour TRO to stop the implementation of the Revised General Guidelines for the Pilot Implementation of Motorcycle Taxis. After the lapse of the 72-hour TRO and after the conduct of a hearing, Angkas also sought that the writ of preliminary injunction against the implementation of the the Revised General Guidelines for the Pilot Implementation of Motorcycle Taxis, be made permanent. On January 6, 2020, the Mandaluyong City RTC, granted the issuance of a 72-hour TRO after Angkas posted a P300,000 bond. After the lapse of the 72-hour TRO, Angkas’ petition was re-raffled to the Mandaluyong City RTC Branch 212. The court then set the instant case for hearing on January 9, 2020.   Also read: MC Taxi TWG Blasts Angkas For Being 'Two-Faced'
After LTFRB says Angkas could be Blacklisted, Angkas Says Sorry
Mandaluyong RTC issues 72-hour TRO vs TWG MC Taxi policy