Philippines probes Grab over alleged sexual assault of Vietnamese passenger

By Minh Hieu September 12, 2024 | 03:06 pm PT

A Grab logo is pictured at the Money 20/20 Asia Fintech Trade Show in Singapore March 21, 2019. Photo by Reuters/Anshuman Daga

Philippine regulators have launched an investigation into the alleged robbery and sexual assault of a Vietnamese woman who booked a ride using the Grab ride-hailing app.

The Philippines’ Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has requested the firm to explain the incident and given it five days to comply, the Philippine News Agency quoted the agency’s chair Teofilo Guadiz III as saying on Wednesday. If found to be negligent, the firm could be suspended for at least 30 days and face fines.

The robbery and sexual assault allegedly occurred on Sept. 5 when a Vietnamese woman booked a ride in Parañaque City.

During the ride, the driver reportedly allowed another passenger to board the car, according to ABS-CBN News.

This passenger then reportedly took the woman’s phone and cash, which amounted to 35,000 Philippine pesos (US$623), before raping her inside the vehicle. The driver was arrested by the police on Sept. 7.

Grab’s Philippine unit said on Thursday that the driver involved in the case has been permanently banned from the platform, Bloomberg reported.

It has reached out to the victim to offer assistance and will fully cooperate with the Philippine police in the investigation.