Ride-hailing platform Grab Philippines has placed a driver-partner under preventive suspension after he posted sexually inappropriate remarks about actress Xyriel Manabat on Facebook, drawing widespread condemnation online.
The incident traces back to April 7, 2026, when the driver, identified online as “Boss Toyo Mansi,” shared a selfie with Manabat taken just before she stepped out of his vehicle. His caption recounted a brief exchange in which the actress asked to take a photo together before alighting. He then added the remark, “ang LAKI ng bata na yan” — a comment widely read as a lewd reference to the actress’s body. He continued trading crude remarks with users in the comments section of the post.
Manabat confirmed to TV5 entertainment reporter MJ Marfori on April 8 that she was indeed the passenger in the selfie, saying she had been on her way to a taping that day. She said she would not let the incident go without consequence.
In a lengthy statement, she described the encounter as an affront not just to her but to women broadly: “I hope the platform or the app should do something about this because it’s not petty. It’s not something na any woman or anyone, not just women, should experience on a daily basis.”
She also pushed back against any suggestion that her appearance or manner of dress invited the remarks. “It’s never about the piece of clothing. Nakapantrabaho ako. Maayos ko siyang kinausap. As far as I could remember, ang bait-bait ko sa kanya. Nag-tip pa nga ata ako kasi nahiya ako pag may pinaghihintay akong tao.”
The actress directed pointed words at the driver’s family: “So, wow. I hope na your family, your mom, your sister, or worse, if you have a daughter, your wife, di ba, parang, sana makita nila ito. Sana makita nila na ganyang klase kang tao.”
Grab Philippines issued a formal apology to Manabat on the evening of April 8, saying it had already made direct contact with her and offered its full support. The company described the driver’s conduct as a “grave violation and a bannable offense” under its driver guidelines.
“What was reported is deeply concerning and does not reflect the standards we uphold on the platform,” Grab said, adding that it is prepared to cooperate with relevant authorities.
Beyond the suspension, Grab announced a review of its driver behavior protocols, including those governing conduct after a trip ends. “We will introduce further safeguards to address any gaps this incident may have exposed,” the company said. It also reminded passengers to use the Grab app’s 24/7 Safety Center to report any security concerns during or after a ride.
The driver’s Facebook account has since been deactivated.
