Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros called on transport provider Angkas to investigate an alleged harassment complaint against one of its drivers who was accused of physically harassing a woman passenger.
It was reported that last Saturday, October 5, an Angkas driver allegedly physically harassed his passenger when she booked a ride home from Project 6, Quezon City to Eastwood. The driver was arrested and turned over to the Anonas Police Station.
Hontiveros, who is Chair of the Senate Committee on Women, said that she trusts that Angkas will do everything it can to investigate the incident, exact accountability and prevent cases of harassment from happening in the future.
The Senator also encouraged Angkas to use Republic Act 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act also known as the “Bawal Bastos Law” as a guiding policy and framework to address the incident and promote a “culture of safe spaces.”
“Let me be clear. Walang lugar, kahit saan, para sa pambabastos. Tapusin na natin ang paghahari-harian ni ‘boy bastos’ sa ating lansangan,” Hontiveros said.
“Having said that, confident ako that Angkas will be thorough in its investigation, and they will exact accountability,” Hontiveros added.
The Bawal Bastos Law prohibits street and gender-based harassment in public spaces, such as catcalling, wolf-whistling, unwanted invitations, misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic and sexist slurs, sexual comments and suggestions and any advances, whether verbal or physical, that are unwanted and threaten one’s sense of personal space and physical safety.
Hontiveros is the principal author and sponsor of the said measure. Her Office recently partnered with Angkas to promote the said law.