Actress Xyriel Manabat has announced she will take action against a ride-hailing driver who allegedly posted inappropriate comments about her online. The driver has already been placed under preventive suspension by the ride-hailing platform.
In an interview with entertainment journalist MJ Marfori posted on TikTok on Wednesday, Xyriel revealed she was initially unaware of the viral post containing sexualized comments about her.
“I’m not really on my phone much,” said the "Secrets of Hotel 88" star, explaining she only realized something was wrong when fellow PBB housemate AZ Martinez repeatedly tried to contact her.
The post, shared by a Facebook user named Boss Toyo Mani, featured a photo of the driver with Xyriel alongside offensive remarks. Although the user has since deleted their account, screenshots of the post have continued to circulate widely.
Xyriel connected the incident to her long-standing advocacy for women's protection from harassment and sexualization.
“Even before I returned to showbiz, this was one reason I spoke up—I’m really vocal about protecting women, protecting myself against any sexual assault or sexualizing women. That’s truly my advocacy,” she emphasized.
The actress stressed that such posts should never be dismissed as harmless or trivial.
“Now that I’m seeing this, I’m sure I’ll do something about it. This shouldn’t become entertainment in any form. At the same time, I hope the platform or the app should do something about this because it’s not petty,” she asserted.
She added that experiences like these reflect broader realities faced by many women daily.
“You’re just working, someone asks for a photo. You’re just being kind. You’re just being a human—a decent human being—and you get this in return,” Xyriel lamented.
The actress clarified that the issue had nothing to do with clothing, noting she was dressed appropriately for work and had treated the driver respectfully.
“Again, it is never about the piece of clothing. I was in work attire. I spoke to him properly. As far as I can remember, I was even kind to him. I even gave a tip because I feel bad when I keep people waiting,” she recounted.
Immediate Response from Grab Philippines
Shortly after the incident went viral on social media platform X, Grab Philippines responded to a netizen, stating they practice "zero tolerance for inappropriate contact and other misconduct."
The company confirmed they had invited the driver involved for a full investigation and were committed to taking necessary actions. In a separate statement sent to media outlets, Grab issued a formal apology to Xyriel, calling the incident "unacceptable" and contrary to their platform standards.
“What was reported is deeply concerning and does not reflect the standards we uphold on the platform,” the company stated.
Grab confirmed they have placed the driver-partner under preventive suspension pending investigation results, emphasizing such behavior constitutes a grave violation and bannable offense under their Driver Guidelines.
While noting that all driver-partners undergo mandatory safe spaces and anti-harassment training, Grab acknowledged the incident highlights the need for stricter measures.
“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,” they announced.
The company reaffirmed its commitment to passenger safety and encouraged users to report any unsafe experiences through their app's 24/7 Safety Center for appropriate action.
Xyriel Manabat is among the 20 housemates of "Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition 1.0" and currently stars in "The..."