THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has issued a 30-day preventive suspension against a passenger taxi involved in a viral overcharging incident targeting a foreign tourist at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
The enforcement action follows a directive from Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Z. Lopez after the agency’s social media monitoring team flagged an online vlog documenting the scheme.
According to the video, the taxi driver demanded a staggering ₱2,000 for a brief five-minute ride from the airport.
Compounding the violation, the driver also permitted an unauthorized second individual to ride along in the vehicle during the trip.
LTFRB Chairman Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II condemned the incident, describing it as an unacceptable breach of public transport standards that damages the country’s image among international visitors.
“This is a gross violation of franchise rules and regulations. No passenger, much more foreign tourists whom we should welcome to the country, deserves this kind of treatment,” Mendoza said in a statement, emphasizing that while due process will be extended to the operator, swift interim sanctions were necessary to protect the public.
As part of the agency’s Show Cause Order (SCO), the LTFRB directed the taxi operator to immediately surrender the vehicle’s license plates to the central office.
The operator was also mandated to require the driver to undergo a mandatory drug test.
The SCO requires the operator to present a formal notarized explanation detailing why further administrative sanctions or franchise revocation should not be imposed for overcharging fares and failing to provide safe, reliable, and convenient public transportation services.
A formal hearing on the matter has been scheduled for August 19.
Mendoza issued a stern warning to all public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators, asserting that the regulator will not hesitate to suspend or permanently cancel franchises for fraudulent activities.
The LTO chief encouraged commuters and tourists to report abusive drivers immediately through the LTFRB hotline at 1342 or via their official online platforms.
