‘GrabExpress’ partner a fatality in Quiapo blast
The blast site where at least 14 people were injured following an explosion at a commercial area along Quezon Boulevard, Quiapo, Manila.
Grab Philippines on Sunday confirmed that one of the two fatalities in the twin explosions that rocked Quiapo, Manila Saturday evening was one of its “GrabExpress” partners.
“Grab Philippines condemns perpetration of the bombing on Saturday at Norzagaray Street in Quiapo, Manila. We are deeply saddened the incident took the lives of two civilians, including one of our GrabExpress partners,” Grab Philippines said in a statement.
“We are one with authorities in pursuing justice for those who needlessly lost their lives and were hurt. We pledge our full support and cooperation in the conduct of their investigation,” it added.
GrabExpress is the ridesharing firm’s on-demand delivery service in Metro Manila, which transports parcels straight from the user to the recipient with real-time tracking and notification.
Grab Philippines, however, said it would refrain from giving more details “in respect to the ongoing investigation” and to “let the proper authorities make further statements.”
Two blasts that occurred less than three hours apart rocked Quiapo on Saturday evening—the first happened at the office of lawyer and Imamate Islamic Center president Nasser Abinal and killed two people and injured four others, while the second at Norzagaray and Elizondo Streets injured two police officers.
Police said the first explosion originated from a package delivered to the lawyer’s office. Authorities are still investigating the motive for the attack, but the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has ruled out the angle of terrorism.
On April 28, during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Manila, a “homemade pipe bomb” also exploded near the Tower Lodging House on Quezon Boulevard in Quiapo, injuring at least 14 people.
Grab PH vows stricter measures after Quiapo blast
Grab Philippines on Wednesday vowed a stricter enforcement of its protocols on the delivery of parcels through its GrabExpress service after the explosion in Quiapo, Manila last weekend that killed one of its drivers.
In a statement, Grab Philippines spokesperson Leo Gonzales said its drivers are required “to inspect the items for delivery and to refuse delivery of sealed packages that customers decline to open.”
“Grab will enforce more strictly, the rejection of all sealed packages for GE delivery, reinforcing the existing protocol on opening and inspecting all parcels prior to delivery,” Gonzales said.
“The circumstances of the package and its delivery are part of the on-going investigation, so we can’t comment on that. What we can emphasize is the protocol we trained our riders to follow,” he added.
GrabExpress is the ridesharing firm’s on-demand delivery service in Metro Manila, which transports parcels straight from the user to the recipient with real-time tracking and notification.
Two blasts that occurred less than three hours apart rocked Quiapo on Saturday evening—the first happened at the office of lawyer and Imamate Islamic Center president Nasser Abinal and killed two people and injured four others, while the second at Norzagaray and Elizondo Streets injured two police officers.
Police said the first explosion originated from a package delivered to the lawyer’s office. On Sunday, Grab Philippines confirmed that one of the two fatalities in the twin explosions was one of its drivers.
Gonzales said it cannot be assumed or concluded yet that the driver did not inspect the package delivered to Abinal. He said the management decided to close down the account(s) directly linked to the Quiapo incident and to “mark any account with similar user profile.”
“Even before the Quiapo incident, Grab has been in talks with the PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG) for an anti-crime, anti-drug partnership campaign, which involves training of Grab drivers in spotting suspicious activities and reporting it to proper authorities,” he said.
“Grab also reminds its partners to be extra vigilant and attentive to suspicious activities, encouraging GE partners to immediately report any dubious users and accounts,” Gonzales added.
Source: Inquirer