10 taxi, TNVS drivers’ licenses suspended for overcharging, passenger contracting

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has suspended the licenses of 10 taxi and transportation network vehicle service drivers for overcharging and contracting passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City.

The LTO has asked the apprehended drivers, who were flagged during a surprise operation on June 25, for an explanation through a show cause order (SCO).

“We already informed these drivers of the suspension of their licenses for 90 days through the SCOs that we issued them. In other words, wala silang trabaho [they have no jobs] during that period, at ito ay dahil sa pananamantala sa ating mga kababayang commuter [because they took advantage of our commuters],” LTO Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said on Sunday, July 6.

“Hindi tayo papayag sa mga ganitong klaseng pang-aabuso. Kung kayang gawin ito sa mga kababayan natin, what more sa mga dayuhan na turista. Makakasama ito sa imahe ng ating bansa,” he added.

[Translation: We will not allow this abuse. If they can do this to our fellow Filipinos, what more to tourists? It will taint our country’s image.]

Mendoza already directed the regular deployment of an LTO enforcer team at the three terminals of NAIA as they want the “country’s main gateway to be a discipline zone.”

Among the overcharging incidents include a driver asking for P1,300 for a trip from NAIA Terminal 2 to 3 and a P5,000 for a trip from Terminal 1 to 2.

The erring drivers are slapped with a case of being an improper person to operate a motor vehicle. If a maximum penalty will be meted out, their licenses will be revoked.

The agency is also looking into a motorcycle taxi rider who allegedly charged a passenger P2,000 for a trip from NAIA to Cainta, Rizal.