The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has identified the taxi driver in a viral video who charged Taiwanese passengers P10,000 each for a short trip between terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Super Radyo dzBB’s Jhoemer Apresto reported Friday.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista told reporters at the NAIA Terminal 3 that aside from the driver, the taxi operator has been identified as well.
Bautista was quoted as saying that the taxi operator would be barred from providing transport services at the airport.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) — two sectoral offices under the DOTr — have launched a manhunt for the taxi driver.
The Transportation chief, however, said the taxi driver has yet to be found and may have already fled to the provinces.
Bautista expressed belief that the long arm of the law will eventually catch up with the cabbie once the ongoing investigation on the incident has been completed.
The dzBB report said Bautista did not mention any updates regarding the cabbie’s companion, who handed the rate card to the Taiwanese passengers.
Last Wednesday, a report on 24 Oras said the LTFRB had no information on the driver’s identity and the taxi’s plate number. LTFRB spokesperson Celine Pialago-Vargas appealed to the uploader of the viral video to provide details “to start on” as a show cause order will be issued against the driver for alleged overcharging.
In the original post on social media, a security guard at the NAIA took the Taiwanese passengers to the taxi driver. The passengers were allegedly locked up inside the taxi for refusing to pay the P10,000-fare, which was eventually reduced to P5,000.
Vargas has appealed to airport passengers to take accredited transportation at the NAIA because abusive taxi drivers can be more easily identified.
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), an attached agency of the DOTr, is also investigating the incident. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
