Grab: Drivers have right to cancel bookings for suspected nCoV-afflicted passengers

Grab Philippines on Friday said its drivers are within their rights to cancel rides if they suspect that their passengers are afflicted with the 2019 novel coronavirus.

The statement was issued by Grab after screenshots of drivers telling passengers to cancel rides circulated online, according to Ivan Mayrina's Thursday report on 24 Oras.

"Drivers have the right to cancel the ride if they suspect that the passengers have contracted the Wuhan coronavirus but in a tactful, respectful, and non-discriminatory way," the company said.

"Grab does not tolerate discrimination, and any discriminatory act will lead to suspension or banning," it added.

Though he does not cancel bookings, Grab driver Slobex Bautista said he kept his car extremely clean.

"Hindi naman po dini-discriminate. Nag iingat lang po dahil mahirap po iyan pagka-nagkaroon ka ng coronavirus, apektado ang pamilya," Baustista said.

The Department of Health has also said that preventing the spread of the virus is not discriminatory.

"Meron tayong sistemang nakalagay, so yung sistema na 'yon hayaan na natin [...] Ke-Chinese, American, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, wala po tayong kinikilala o dini-discriminate na mga tao," Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.

Meanwhile, the President of the Federation Of Filipino Chinese Chambers Of Commerce & Industry said the dissemination of information on nCoV has to be reviewed.

"No, I don't think it's because you are Chinese or Filipino but because of the coronavirus itself," Dr. Henry Lim said.

"May talagang overreaction talaga, diba? But I don't think we should blame them also. It's just proper education," he added.

The statement was issued on Thursday, the same day that the Department of Health confirmed the first nCoV case in the country. — Joahna Lei Casilao/BAP, GMA News