The driver of a ride-hailing platform who had lewd remarks to his passenger, actress Xyriel Manabat, has been placed under preventive suspension following the incident.
Social media users raised awareness about a driver who posted a picture of the actress on Facebook and had lewd comments about her chest, including the Filipino slang for “masturbate.”
“@grabph, one of your drivers is publicly and openly SEXU@LIZ!NG Ms. Xyriel Manabat. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!” the user wrote on the X (formerly Twitter) platform on Wednesday, April 8.
“Hindi ninyo pwedeng sabihin na safe ang mga pasahero ninyo, lalo na ang mga kababaihan, kung ganito ang ugali ng mga maghahatid sa kanila,” the user added, sharing screenshots of the posts.
@grabph one of your drivers is publicly and openly SEXU@LIZ!NG ms. xyriel manabat.
DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!
hindi ninyo pwedeng sabihin na safe ang mga pasahero ninyo, lalo na ang mga kababaihan, kung ganito ang ugali ng mga maghahatid sa kanila. pic.twitter.com/N9HXpWWzGl
— alex (@statichronicle) April 8, 2026
credits sa mga nag screenshot sa threads. nakakadiri kayo! pic.twitter.com/ZogupNmtKP
— alex (@statichronicle) April 8, 2026
Grab Philippines assured the online user that it had “invited the driver involved” as part of its investigation into the incident.
The ride-hailing app also provided more updates, saying that the driver “has been placed under preventive suspension.”
“Grab affirms that such behavior constitutes a grave violation and a bannable offense under our Driver Guidelines,” it said in another response.
“While all driver-partners on the Grab platform undergo mandatory safe spaces and anti-harassment training through Grab Academy and accredited partner organizations, we recognize that this incident demands more than a restatement of existing protocols,” it added.
“We are now undertaking a comprehensive review of our driver behavior protocols, including those governing post-trip conduct, and will introduce further safeguards to address any gaps this incident may have exposed,” the app further said.
It also said it “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,” Grab said.
“We are already in direct contact with Ms. Manabat, have offered our full support and ensured her concerns were heard. We are also prepared to cooperate fully with relevant authorities,” it added.
The platform urged passengers to report “immediately” through its 24/7 Safety Center feature in the app if any part of their journey “falls short of a secure experience.”
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.
We are already in direct contact with Ms. Manabat, have…
— Grab Philippines (@grabph) April 8, 2026
Xyriel, meanwhile, said in an interview that she was just on her way to work when that happened.
“Hindi ko ‘yan papalampasin. Hindi dapat gawing entertainment ‘yan in any form. I hope the platform or app will do something about this. It is not petty,” she said on Tuesday.
The actress said she took the ride on Tuesday, adding it was a routine trip to work.
“Sobrang nagulat ako. Papunta lang ako ng work niyan — imagine, gaano kahirap buhay ng babae. Nag-work ka lang, nagpa-pic lang. You are being kind, you are being a decent human being, you get this in return,” Xyriel said.
“Again, it is never about the piece of clothing. Naka-pang-work ako. Maayos ako nakipag-usap. As far as I can remember, ang bait ko pa sa kanya. Nag-tip pa ako kasi nahihiya ako kapag may pinaghihintay akong tao. I hope your mom, family, sister, wife, daughter, makita nila ‘to, makitang ganyan ka na tao,” she added.
The actress is one of the lead stars of the coming-of-age film “18th Rose” with Kyle Echarri. It will be released on Netflix on April 9.
