Illegal barkers conniving with taxi drivers who overcharge passengers were arrested by authorities in an operation in Alabang, Muntinlupa.
Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon announced on Aug. 18 that the barkers were nabbed by the Muntinlupa police and the Muntinlupa Traffic Management Bureau (MTMB).
The operation against them was conducted after the Muntinlupa City government received reports about the barkers’ scheme on passengers in connivance with drivers.
Biazon said the barkers’ modus was to approach passengers under the guise of helping them with their baggage and offering them to take a taxi.
“Pero ang taxi palang ito ay hindi gagamit ng metro at maniningil ng libo-libo. (Lumalabas sa imbestigasyon na hindi bababa sa P2,000 ang singil hanggang Pasay at pataas nang pataas ang presyo habang lumalayo ang destinasyon.) (But the taxi will not use the fare meter and will charge thousands of pesos. The investigation revealed that at least P2,000 is being charged up to Pasay and the price goes up as the destination goes far),” the mayor posted on Facebook.
He said he immediately ordered an investigation on the modus that resulted in the arrest of the barkers.
In addition, the MTMB sent a letter to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) “to assist us by conducting operation against these overcharging and service contracting drivers, including the Colorum and Out-of-Line vehicles (taxis), vans and passenger jeepneys in the Alabang Viaduct area, National Road from Alabang to Tunasan up to the boundary with San Pedro City, Laguna.”