Calls rise to stop operation of Russian-led motorcycle taxi service in PH

Calls for the immediate stoppage of the operation of Maxim, a Russian transport network service in the country, are getting louder after the recent death of a motorcycle taxi passenger using its service following an accident in Cebu City.

The urgent call to stop the Maxim MC taxi operation is spearheaded by Sen. Grace Poe, Senate committee on public services chairperson. She noted that Maxim Taxi Philippines Inc. is only permitted to operate as a transport cargo service but not as a passenger taxi.

During the same Senate hearing, Poe and committee members Sens. Raffy Tulfo, Nancy Binay and Jinggoy Estrada were one in citing that Maxim Taxi Philippines Inc. violated its permit to operate only as a cargo delivery company.

According to Jessica Asentista, her sister Jeraldyn Asentista died of multiple head and body injuries, while the driver of the Maxim MC taxi only suffered bruises after their motorcycle was accidentally hit by a truck.

The family and  relatives of the victim appealed for help from the Senate, particularly from Tulfo because apart from their demand that the company and the owner of the truck must pay for the death of Jeraldyn, they also wanted the Russian firm to cease its local operation in the country in order to protect other passengers.

In the Senate hearing, Poe’s committee confirmed that Maxim was operating as MC taxi and ordered its representatives to immediately put an advice on the social media site that they are operating only as a cargo delivery firm.

Tulfo also pointed out that Maxim is in violation of its permit and is operating as a colorum as a MC taxi putting into jeopardy the safety and security of the passengers, particularly because if an accident happened the victim could not easily ask for compensation because the MC taxi has no insurance coverage.

The senators also stressed that Maxim is lacking professional riders, like other MC taxis, naming Angkas in particular, which has done extensive training of their motorcycle taxi riders.