Actress Xyriel Manabat said she will pursue action against a Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) driver who allegedly made inappropriate remarks about her on social media after she became his passenger.
The issue surfaced after screenshots of the driver’s post circulated online. The post included a photo of Manabat with the driver inside the vehicle, along with a caption that read: “Nagulat ako nagpapicture sa akin… ang LAKI ng bata na ‘yan,” followed by a lewd remark that drew strong backlash from netizens.
According to Manabat, she had simply agreed to take a photo with the driver before getting off the vehicle.
In an interview, the actress expressed disappointment and outrage over the incident.
“Hindi ko ‘yan papalagpasin… hindi dapat nagiging entertainment ‘yan,” she said.
“Imagine kung gaano kahirap ‘yung buhay ng isang babae. Nagtrabaho ka lang, nagpa-picture lang sa’yo, you’re just being kind… you’ll get this in return. Again it’s never about the piece of clothing, nakapangtrabaho ako, maayos ko siyang kinausap,” she added.
Manabat admitted she only became aware of the issue after being informed by those close to her, as she is not active on her phone.
“Ahh, okay hindi kasi ako pala-phone pero now that I’m seeing this, I’m sure that I’ll do something about this kasi even before naman ako bumalik sa showbiz diyan din naman isa sa rason kung bakit ako umingay kasi I’m really vocal about protecting women,” she said.
She emphasized that advocating against sexual harassment and the objectification of women has long been part of her advocacy.
“Protecting me against sexual assault or sexualizing women. ‘Yun talaga ang advocacy ko,” she added.
The actress also called on the platform involved to take action, stressing that such incidents should not be dismissed.
“Hindi ko ‘yan papalagpasin. Hindi dapat nagiging entertainment ‘yan in any form… I hope the platform or the app should do something about this because it’s not petty, it’s not something na any woman not just women should experience on a daily basis,” she said.
She further recalled her shock, noting that she was simply on her way to work when the incident happened.
“Sobrang nagulat ako kasi papunta lang ako ng trabaho niyan. Imagine kung gaano kahirap ang trabaho ng babae, nagtrabaho ka lang, nagpa-picture lang sa’yo, you’re just being kind, you’re just being a decent human being and you get this in return,” she said.
Manabat also revealed that she had treated the driver kindly during the trip.
“Sa totoo lang, nag-tip pa nga ako sa kanya kasi nahiya ako kapag may pinaghihintay akong tao,” she shared, before adding a pointed remark: “Sana makita ito ng pamilya niya… para makita kung anong klaseng tao siya.”
The incident drew condemnation online, with netizens calling for accountability and citing possible violations of Republic Act No. 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act.
In response, Grab Philippines issued a statement acknowledging the incident and assuring the public of immediate action.
“Thank you for bringing this to our attention… At Grab, we practice zero tolerance for inappropriate contact and other misconduct,” the company said.
Grab also extended an apology to Manabat, stating, “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.”
The company confirmed that the driver involved has been placed under preventive suspension pending a full investigation.
“Upon our initial investigation, the driver-partner involved has been placed under preventive suspension… such behavior constitutes a grave violation and a bannable offense under our Driver Guidelines,” it added.
Grab also said it is reviewing its safety protocols and reminded users to report incidents through its 24/7 Safety Center.
Manabat, meanwhile, reiterated her commitment to using her platform to advocate for victims of harassment.
“I’m not scared naman to express my passion about protecting women, about protecting victims or voiceless in any gender, in any age. I’ll use my platform,” she said.
