Uber driver faces complaint after hitting a motorcycle rider

A complaint has been filed before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) against an Uber driver for hitting a motorcycle rider in Makati City, a Balitanghali report on Tuesday said.

Serafin Del Mundo, 40, was caught on camera getting hit by a white vehicle along Arnaiz Street corner Osmeña Highway in Makati City last February 4.

The Uber driver identified as Eric Dayaganon Sayson was allegedly "beating the red light," GMA News' Cesar Apolinario reported.

Del Mundo was discharged after two months and has been unable to move his body following the incident.

"Hindi pa po makalakad kasi 'yung buto niya sa paa, basag. Tapos 'yung sa spinal cord niya na-dislocate kaya ngayon hindi masyado makatayo. Parang bedridden na po si Papa ngayon," Ruel del Mundo, son of the victim, said.

"Hanggang ngayon hindi kami inaasikaso ng driver. Ni text, ni tawag wala po kaming na-re-receive. 'Yung sa Facebook, hindi na rin kami kinakausap. Naka-block pa po kami," he added.

Ruel then decided to file a complaint before the LTFRB after the said negligence. 

The LTFRB said it will order Uber and the operator of the vehicle involved to explain the said incident.

Uber, however, said that the driver did not inform them about the incident.

"We are urgently investigating this situation and have waitlisted the account of the driver in question. We take any safety-related incident extremely seriously and stand ready to assist the riders, drivers and authorities," Uber's media relations associate Dessa Castilla said.

The victim's legal counsel, meanwhile, said that the Uber vehicle did not have a franchise yet.

"Accredited ng Uber, pero walang franchise sa LTFRB. Eh prerequisite 'yon. Dapat may franchise bago i-accredit. Parang lumalabas, parang Uber na ngayon ang nag-a-accredit, hindi na LTFRB," Atty. Rolando Sibal, legal counsel of the victim, said.

The Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection (LCSP) group said the LTFRB has been lenient toward transport network vehicle service (TNVS) operators, while it has always been strict with taxi drivers.

A taxi driver and the taxi operator are held accountable in an accident. Meanwhile, only drivers of TNVS are held liable for an administrative case. 

The LTFRB for its part said they would discuss the TNVS regulations in order to hold both the driver and transportation network companies (TNCs) accountable for accidents.

"This one is a clear example why we at LTFRB, we want to have the TNCs to have a level of accountability," LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada said. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/KG, GMA News