Delivery and transport service Angkas is not only known for helping commuters get home during rush hour, it’s also witty on Twitter. The @angkas account has some relatable and funny tweets, but their most recent one drew the ire of the PNP when they made a sex joke.
Last night, Angkas tweeted, “Angkas is like sex. It’s scary the first time pero masarap na ulit-ulitin.” They ended it with a discount promo code. This was met with laughs from their followers.
One person who didn’t find this amusing was whoever’s handling the @PNPHotline Twitter account. They took a screenshot of Angkas’ tweet accused of scaring commuters and even tagging the LTFRB. “This is not promoting public safety in transport business anymore.”
This is not acceptable to commuters. Matatakot ang tao sa Angkas pag ganito. This is not promoting public safety in transport business anymore hen @LTFRB_Official @LTFRB. pic.twitter.com/pA63OeUJfw
— PNP Tweets (@PNPhotline) July 31, 2019
This prompted Angkas to take down their tweet and later posted a public apology from their CEO Angeline Tham. “Safety has always been our brand’s priority, and we apologize for how our recent tweet has made users feel unsafe and cast doubt on the integrity of our service. Words and analogies are meant to help us connect with our audience, but in this case, we’ve missed the mark. We take full responsibility for this misstep,” the statement read.
Additionally, Angeline talked about how we should all openly discuss “maturely and openly,” but not joke about how scary it should be. “Sex should never be used to create shame, fear, or disgust, and certainly not used lightly for the sake of some buzz.”
— Angkas (@angkas) July 31, 2019
Netizens applauded Angkas for being accountable of their actions. Meanwhile, some thought they shouldn’t have apologized for such a harmless joke and that the PNP was overreacting.
Actually PNP lang ang over sensitive haha
— Jericho Rayel Timbol (@jerichorayel) July 31, 2019
Owning a mistake that shouldn't have been a mistake in the first place we still Stan
— meowrielle (@staticbeanx) August 1, 2019
We commend Angkas for checking themselves because they’re right, sex shouldn’t be a scary thing. Sure, it will make you nervous if it’s your first time, but frightening people isn’t the right way to promote sex positivity.
That being said, we think the PNP was reaching when they accused Angkas about promoting unsafe traveling with regards to their sex joke. Let’s face it, riding a motorcycle is scary in general if you’re not used to it. That’s a plain fact.
Also, if the PNP has time calling out Angkas online for their bad jokes, then they should also do that with our president. He loves making horrible “hyperboles” and “jokes” about rape. Just recently, he threatened to kill and beat up officials who weren’t doing their jobs. That’s not how a president—or any decent human being—should behave.
And yet, there are people who’d defend him, saying he just wanted to make people laugh when he talks like that. This includes PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde who said Duterte’s statement about pardoning rapists during the PMA graduation was “a very obvious joke.”
So, if a person in power is joking about human rights violations on national television and live speeches, he should get a pass. But when accounts like Angkas posts a bad joke on Twitter, the police tries to drag them and probably get it shut down again.
The PNP is supposed to serve and protect the people, but it seems like they don’t have their priorities in check.
Photo courtesy of Pexels
For the latest in culture, fashion, beauty, and celebrities, subscribe to our weekly newsletter here
Follow Preen on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Viber
Related stories:
Angkas apologizes to riders and bikers for sexual promo ad
The bigger problem with Duterte’s PMA rape joke
Duterte’s rape jokes speaks volumes of who we are as a nation
Thoughts on commuting again when ride-sharing gets annoying
