MANILA – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has issued a show-cause order against a taxi operator for charging a senior citizen PHP750 for a short trip from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 to a bus terminal in Pasay City.
In a statement on Wednesday, Acting LTFRB chairperson Greg Pua Jr. said the operator of the taxi with license plate NBS-8720 is under investigation over the viral video of the incident.
Pua thanked the netizen who uploaded the video, saying it gave the agency all the necessary information to identify the operator.
“This is an unacceptable practice. Senior citizen man o hindi, walang karapatan ang sinumang taxi driver na maningil ng higit sa itinakda ng LTFRB. We will look into this matter and we assure the public of quick action (This is an unacceptable practice. Senior citizen or not, no taxi driver has the right to charge more than what the LTFRB has set. We will look into this matter and we assure the public of quick action),” he said.
The show-cause order, signed by LTFRB Legal Division Officer-in-Charge Ralph Baguio, directs the operator to explain in writing why its Certificate of Public Convenience should not be cancelled or suspended.
According to the report, the netizen followed the taxi after noticing a conductor inside the cab, which is unusual since only passenger buses normally have conductors.
The netizen confirmed the PHP750 fare after speaking with the senior citizen.
The video later went viral, prompting the LTFRB social media team to monitor the incident.
The hearing is set on Nov. 24, with Pua warning of legal consequences if the operator fails to honor the summons.
He also reminded operators of taxis and other public utility vehicles to ensure their drivers do not engage in misconduct, stressing that they too will suffer the consequences. (Raymond Carl Dela Cruz/PNA)
