Xyriel Manabat wants to take action vs TNVS driver over lewd post  

Xyriel Manabat has vowed to pursue action against a TNVS driver who posted lewd remarks about her online

In an interview with entertainment journalist MJ Marfori posted on TikTok Wednesday, the "Secrets of Hotel 88" star admitted to not knowing know about the viral lewd post made about her.

“Hindi kasi ako pala-phone,” Xyriel said, adding she only later realized something was up when fellow PBB housemate AZ Martinez repeatedly tried to contact her.

Already going viral was a Facebook post of user Boss Toyo Mani containing a photo of himself with Xyriel along with remarks that sexualized the actress. He has since deleted his account but screen grabs of his post has gone viral.

According to Xyriel, the issue hits close to her personal advocacy as she has long been vocal about protecting women from harassment and sexualization. 

“Even before naman ako bumalik sa showbiz, diyan din naman isa sa reason kung ba’t ako umingay, kasi I’m really vocal about protecting women, protecting me against any sexual assault or sexualizing women. ‘Yun talaga ‘yung advocacy ko,” she said.

Xyriel stressed the post should not be dismissed as harmless or petty.

“Now that I’m seeing this, I’m sure na I’ll do something about it. Hindi dapat nagiging entertainment ‘yan in any form,” she said. “And at the same time, I hope the platform or the app should do something about this because it’s not petty.”

She further pointed out that such experiences reflect the broader reality many women face. 

“It’s not something na any woman or anyone, not just women should experience on a daily basis,” Xyriel said.

“Nagtrabaho ka lang, may nagpa-picture lang sa’yo. You’re just being kind. You’re just being a human. A decent human being—and you’ll get this in return,” she said. 

Xyriel reiterated the issue has nothing to do with clothing, emphasizing she was dressed appropriately for work and even treated the driver with respect. 

“Again, it is never about the piece of clothing. Naka-pang-work ako. Maayos ako nakipag-usap. As far as I can remember, ang bait ko pa sa kanya. Nag-tip pa ako kasi nahihiya ako kapag may pinaghihintay akong tao. I hope your mom, family, sister, wife, daughter, makita nila ‘to, makitang ganyan ka na tao.”

Shortly after it went viral on X (formerly Twitter), ride-hailing company Grab Philippines replied to a netizen, saying "we practice zero tolerance for inappropriate contact and other misconduct."

"Rest assured we have invited the driver involved as part of our full investigation and are committed to taking the necessary actions," Grab added. 

In another statement posted on X and sent to GMA News Online, Grab said they already issued a formal apology to Xyriel for an experience they described as as “unacceptable” and not reflective of the platform’s standards.

“What was reported is deeply concerning and does not reflect the standards we uphold on the platform,” the company said.

"We are already in direct contact with Ms. Manabat, have offered our full support and ensured her concerns were heard. We are also prepared to cooperate fully with relevant authorities," Grab added.

According to the company, the driver-partner involved has been placed under preventive suspension pending the results of an ongoing investigation, emphasizing that such behavior is considered a grave violation and a bannable offense under its Driver Guidelines. 

“Upon our initial investigation, the driver-partner involved has been placed under preventive suspension. Grab affirms that such behavior constitutes a grave violation and a bannable offense under our Driver Guidelines. “

While noting that all driver-partners undergo mandatory safe spaces and anti-harassment training through Grab Academy and partner organizations, Grab acknowledged that the incident highlights the need for stronger measures.

"We are now undertaking a comprehensive review of our driver behavior protocols, including those governing post-trip conduct, and will introduce further safeguards to address any gaps this incident may have exposed,” they said. 

Reaffirming its commitment to safety, Grab stressed that every user has the right to feel secure when using the platform. 

“Every person who uses Grab has the right to feel safe. We will continue to hold ourselves and our driver-partners to that standard, without exception,” the company wrote.

It also encouraged passengers to immediately report any unsafe experience through the app’s 24/7 Safety Center so that appropriate action can be taken.

Xyriel is among the 20 housemates of “Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition 1.0.” She currently stars in “The Secrets of Hotel 88” with her fellow housemates.

Grab Philippines extends its sincere apology to Ms. Xyriel Manabat for the unacceptable experience she had with a driver. What was reported is deeply concerning and does not reflect the standards we uphold on the platform.

We are already in direct contact with Ms. Manabat, have…

— Grab Philippines (@grabph) April 8, 2026

— LA, GMA News