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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Solon cites Xyriel Manabat's courage in responding to 'bastos' TNVS driver

Solon cites Xyriel Manabat's courage in responding to 'bastos' TNVS driver

Published Apr 10, 2026 06:03 pm

At A Glance

  • Akbayan Party-list Rep. Dadah Ismula hailed actress Xyriel Manabat on Friday, April 10, for her courage in standing up to a Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) driver who made a "bastos" or lewd comment about her.
Xyriel Manabat (Facebook)
Xyriel Manabat (Facebook)


Akbayan Party-list Rep. Dadah Ismula hailed actress Xyriel Manabat on Friday, April 10, for her courage in standing up to a Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) driver who made a "bastos" or lewd comment about her.
"Ang karanasan ni Xyriel ay posibleng nangyayari din sa marami pang mga kababaihan at bata ngunit hindi lang nagva-viral. Kailangan nating dagdagan ng proteksyon ang ating batas para ligtas ang lahat, kahit sa loob ng mga sasakyan," Ismula said in a statement.
(Xyriel’s experience may also be happening to many other women and children, but it just doesn’t go viral. We need to strengthen our laws with more protection so that everyone is safe, even inside vehicles.)
"Saludo ako sa tapang ni Xyriel at ng mga kababaihang hindi pinapalagpas ang sexual harassment. Huwag kayong matakot magsalita. Nandito kami para siguraduhin na ang ating mga batas ay sapat at handang sumuporta sa inyo," added the neophyte congresswoman.
(I salute the courage of Xyriel and of women who do not let sexual harassment pass. Do not be afraid to speak up. We are here to ensure that our laws are sufficient and ready to support you.)
Manabat said she would take action against the TNVS driver after she got wind that he posted a selfie of them post-ride on social media, along with an indecent remark about the 22-year-old actress.
According to Ismula, Manabat's case clearly shows the need to fast-track the proposed expansion of the Safe Spaces Act.
House Bill (HB) No.768, filed in July 2025 by Ismula and several other solons, explicitly broadens the definition of "public spaces" to include "private vehicles covered by app-based transport network services".
This amendment ensures that the same protections and penalties applied in streets and malls will cover every booked ride, providing a clear legal basis for accountability.
The lady lawmaker also pushed for mandatory gender-sensitivity training across all TNVS platforms to prevent sexual harassment between riders and customers.

Related Tags

Xyriel Manabat TNVs Akbayan Party-list Dadah Ismula
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