J&T Faces Police Raps, More Offenses Added to Cart
Courier service J&T Express will have to answer to a police complaint for violation of the Consumer Protection Act after an investigation uncovered more offenses on top of those exposed in a viral video.
Violation of the Consumer Protection Act is punishable with fines and imprisonment for locals. It was President Rodrigo Duterte who ordered an investigation on J&T in early July after a video purportedly showed its personnel handling cargo without face masks, a violation of COVID-19 protocols.
"Other than those that went viral on video which was also the basis for the investigation, there were other things that were also uncovered, including violations of the labor law," said General Archie Gamboa, chief of the Philippine National Police, in a virtual briefing. The PNP's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group led the investigation.
The viral video also showed J&T personnel apparently mishandling parcel, which were carelessly thrown into delivery trucks. J&T, which counts online marketplace Shoppee among its clients, apologized after the President threatened to shut it down.
Aside from violation of the Consumer Protection Act, a complaint was also filed against J&T for violating Republic Act 11332 or the Law on Reporting of Communicable Diseases, Gamboa said.
After J&T's Muntinlupa hub was found to be operating without a mayor's permit, police started inspecting its other provincial centers and branches, he said.
"We are cooperative with the cease-and-desist order by the City Government of Muntinlupa. We are abiding by the laws and ordinances and we will only operate after receiving the Mayor’s permit for Muntinlupa hub," J&T said.