MANILA, Philippines —Transport and legal advocates have revived the unresolved "ghost rider" controversy as they warned that the issue puts the Department of Transportation's (DOTr) regulatory credibility to the test.
Amid persistent regulatory concerns in the motorcycle taxi sector, Ariel Inton, Lawyers for Commuter Safety and Protection (LCSP) president, said on Thursday that regulations may be challenged and improved but must be respected while in force—not repeatedly violated.
"No one is exempt from the law. If a regulation needs changing, there is a proper process," Inton told the Agenda Forum held at a Quezon City hotel.
"We cannot simply set aside the question of whether existing rules were followed at the time," he stressed.
The ‘ghost rider’ issue emerged this year during the fuel crisis after rider lists tied to a cash assistance program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) were flagged for duplicate and conflicting entries.
This raised concerns over rider records and compliance with government-imposed caps on motorcycle taxi operations, according to the LCSP head.
"It's time for the DOTr to clarify the ghost rider issue: If there were problems with rider lists and onboarding, what were the findings? Were corrective actions taken? Has anyone been held accountable?" Inton asked.
LCSP has previously supported formal regulation of motorcycle taxis and called for policies protecting rider livelihoods—including those affected by industry caps—while stressing that protecting workers and enforcing accountability are not mutually exclusive.
The National Confederation of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations of the Philippines and the National Public Transport Coalition under the leadership of Ariel Lim said the issue raised a fundamental question of fairness.
Transport workers who follow government rules and limits daily face a system where one MC taxi platform appears able to repeatedly exceed its approved cap without consequence, Lim said.
"For tricycles, jeepneys, taxis, and other public transport, there are authorizations, limits, and accountability when those limits are breached," said Lim, who represented both groups.
If rules are strictly applied to them but others can bypass them without clear accountability, those who follow the law are the ones left at a disadvantage, Lim told the forum.
"Supply and demand must be balanced. When supply exceeds demand, everyone suffers—riders, operators, and commuters alike. Proper regulation is essential for the entire transport system to function effectively and sustainably," Lim explained.
The groups also clarified that riders should not bear the burden of decisions made at the corporate level.
National Riders Coalition representative Jett Mayugba emphasized that protecting riders' livelihoods should not shield companies from accountability.
"Riders are not at fault for a platform's violations. They shouldn't be used as a shield. They're simply looking for work and a living. They don't decide how many to onboard, they don't hold the master list, and they don't make company decisions," Mayugba said.
"Let's protect the riders, but don't let them become an excuse for companies to evade responsibility. If the company made the decision, the company should face accountability," he pointed out.
