#SaveAngkas: Angkas taps celebrities for a free 'thanksgiving' concert

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 19) — As motorcycle ride-hailing service Angkas fights to stay alive, its social media accounts announced a free concert featuring the country's biggest artists.

Angkas announced it will be holding a free "thanksgiving concert"with musicians Nadine Lustre, Sam Concepcion, Hale, Ella Cruz, Shanti Dope and Mayonnaise in the line-up on December 22 at the Quezon City Circle main stage.

Since the release of the Supreme Court's order for a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the decision that allowed Angkas to continue its services, the ride-hailing mobile application has been urging netizens to help save its drivers from losing their jobs.

Apart from the concert, Angkas also asked supporters online to sign a petition entitled "#SaveAngkas and Support the Regulation of Motorcycle Taxis in the Philippines." The petition currently has over 47,000 signees.

Angkas has also called for netizens to share their personal statements through videos in solidarity with its cause.

"I know the petition won't be enough, so your statements will help us be heard even more. Send us a video showing your support!," its statement on Twitter said.

On December 16, Angkas organized a "unity ride" joined by over 8,000 bikers to protest the court's order. The unity ride spanned the one kilometer-long stretch of EDSA's northbound lane, beginning from the People Power Monument in Quezon City.

A long-standing fight

Transport officials initially ordered a shutdown of Angkas operations on November 2017 due to lack of business permits. They also cited Republic Act 4136, saying "motorcycles registered in the service are not authorized to conduct business and offer public transport."

However, the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court Branch 213 granted a preliminary injunction on August 20 this year in favor of Angkas to resume operations without government interference. The order prevented transportation authorities to apprehend Angkas bikers and to perform acts that would impede its business.

On December 5, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a petition by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to allow the apprehension of Angkas bikers.

However, Angkas recently announced that it would continue to provide transportation services to its customers, blatantly defying the Supreme Court 's order.

READ: Angkas to continue operations despite SC ruling

DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade condemned Angkas's violation and ordered officials to apprehend all its bikers.

"Hulihin ninyo ang lahat ng Angkas riders na lalabag. Hindi naman tamang i-violate ng Angkas ang batas at ang Supreme Court order. Mali 'yon. Noong naglabas ng TRO ang korte laban sa DOTr, sumunod kami. Sana ay ganoon din sila. The rule of law must always prevail," Tugade said Monday.

[Translation: Apprehend all Angkas riders violating the order. It is not right for ANgkas to violate the Supreme Court order. That's wrong. When they released the TRO against the DOTr, we complied. We hope they would too. The rule of law must always prevail.]

The DOTr said Angkas bikers and operators caught will be sanctioned with a PhP6,000 fine and three-month vehicle impound. They will also be blacklisted from securing a franchise with the LTFRB.