Grab Philippines apologises to actress Xyriel Manabat, suspends driver over lewd remarks

Grab Philippines has issued a public apology to actress Xyriel Manabat after one of its drivers made lewd remarks about her online, in a case that is now testing platform accountability and brand trust in the country’s ride-hailing sector.

The company confirmed it has placed the driver on preventive suspension following initial findings, adding that it is prepared to cooperate with authorities as Manabat pursues formal action.

The incident gained traction after a social media post circulated showing a selfie of the actress with the driver, accompanied by inappropriate captions and indecent comments. Manabat has since spoken out, rejecting attempts to trivialise the remarks as humour or online content.

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“I hope the platform or app will do something about this. It is not petty,” she said in an interview.

The episode underscores how quickly user-generated content tied to platform services can escalate into reputational risk – particularly when it intersects with issues of safety, gender, and public accountability.

Platform response and policy scrutiny

In its official statement, Grab acknowledged the severity of the incident and reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on misconduct:

“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 added that it has reached out directly to Manabat and offered support, while confirming the driver’s suspension.

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

Beyond immediate disciplinary action, Grab said it is reviewing its broader driver management systems – particularly those governing behaviour outside of active trips.

“While all driver-partners on the Grab platform undergo mandatory safe spaces and anti-harassment training through Grab Academy and accredited partner organisations, we recognise that this incident demands more than a restatement of existing protocols.”

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

Cultural flashpoint and public backlash

The controversy has also drawn political and advocacy responses, with Gabriela Women’s Party condemning the driver’s behaviour as part of a broader societal issue.

The group also called for mandatory gender sensitivity and anti-harassment training for Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers, stressing that service providers carry responsibility beyond transportation.

The incident has further exposed a persistent divide in online discourse, with some users defending the driver’s comments as harmless or flattering – an argument widely criticised by advocacy groups as perpetuating a culture of normalised harassment.

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