
“The first one to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him.” (Proverbs 18:17)
In this day and age, it’s easy to believe anything we see on the Internet. But just because something seems right doesn’t mean it actually is. Grab Philippines has just released a statement regarding an alleged sexual-harassment incident. And it said it “found no conclusive evidence to support the allegation or indicate any malicious intent.”

Earlier this month, a Facebook post went viral where a passenger claimed that her Grab driver was pleasuring himself during the trip. According to her, the heavy breathing and “squishing sounds” she heard meant the guy—with only one hand on the steering wheel—was up to no good. After confronting the driver, the complainant ended the ride abruptly.

The Grab driver responded on Facebook denying the allegations. According to him, his physical and medical conditions were legitimate. He also understood why his passengers felt uncomfortable. But he saw no need to apologize as he did nothing wrong during the short trip. Interestingly, he was confident that he would be vindicated with Grab’s Audio Protect security feature.
Grab Philippines suspended the driver-partner’s account, rendering him unable to earn. However, after a comprehensive investigation, it was found that the driver was not guilty. So his account was reactivated, and he will be compensated for the lost revenue.

So, what should we take away from this?
Sexual harassment is a real danger that must be taken seriously. But using social media as the public courtroom is a dangerous game. Rather than listening to both sides of the story, we can easily fall into the trap of exchanging facts and evidence for virality and engagement. That’s why following due process is always important.
Thankfully, Grab Philippines has in-app mechanisms “to ensure that all issues are addressed fairly and transparently, in a swift manner.”
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