LTO chief Asst. Sec. Vigor D. Mendoza II checks on the documents presented by a taxi driver during an operation conducted by the agency against colorum taxis and picky taxi drivers in Quezon City on Wednesday night, Dec. 20, 2023. (photo: LTO)

Enforcers of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) apprehended 16 taxi drivers for allegedly refusing to convey passengers durinn an operation near the SM City North Edsa in Quezon City on Wednesday night, Dec. 20.

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II said his men also apprehended two more cab drivers fir operating colorum taxi after they failed to present documents from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Mendoza, who led the operation on Wednesday, said the operation was part of the Oplan Pasaway, which he launched to run after colorum public utility vehicles (PUVs) and picky taxi drivers/

“These illegal activities will never be tolerated. I expect all Regional Directors heads and our Law Enforcement Service teams to intensify the campaign for the rest of the Holiday season,” said Mendoza.

During the operation, some of the taxi drivers cited some excuses to be spared from apprehension but Mendoza emphasized that there is no excuse for violating the law because those who would be affected are law-abiding taxi drivers and passengers who just want to go home early and comfortable, especially if they are with their families.

Citing complaints of the passengers, Mendoza said that some taxi drivers would even refuse to have a family with babies and small children to board their taxi, despite of weather condition, unless they would agree to the price set by the driver. 

Mendoza said even before his appointment as LT chief, he already heard a lot of complaints about pikcy taxi drivers who would refuse to convey passengers if they would not agree to their pay demand.

“Ass the LTO Chief now, I assure our commuters that I will do everything in my power to run after these erring people,” said Mendoza.

Mendoza, however, appealed to the public to cooperate in this campaign by informing the LTO if they witnessed or became victims of picky taxi drivers.