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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Hallyuwood devider TXT's Soobin gets help from LTFRB after taxi driver's attempt to overcharge him in Cebu

TXT's Soobin gets help from LTFRB after taxi driver's attempt to overcharge him in Cebu

Published Apr 3, 2026 02:01 pm
Soobin and the LTFRB order (Screenshot from TXT video, LTFRB)
Soobin and the LTFRB order (Screenshot from TXT video, LTFRB)

Soobin, a member of K-pop boy band Tomorrow X Together, is getting help from the Philippines’ Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) after he narrated in a vlog how a taxi driver in Cebu attempted to overcharge him P1,000 for a fare. 

The K-pop idol recently went to Cebu with a friend, and upon arriving at the airport, they looked for a taxi. 

They negotiated with a taxi driver for a P500 fare from the airport to their hotel but the driver attempted to charge them P1,000. 

“Well, we know it'll be about 300 pesos -Let's work out a deal. No more than P350.  Just start acting angry if they tell us it'll cost more than 300 pesos. Taehyun’s (another TXT member) traveled to Cebu before so we asked him for some travel tips and he told us to just act angry (if anyone tries to overcharge you),” said Soobin laughing. 

Soobin (Screenshot from TXT video)
Soobin (Screenshot from TXT video)
The order by the LTFRB (Photo from LTFRB on Facebook)
The order by the LTFRB (Photo from LTFRB on Facebook)

When they asked drivers the taxi fare, one said P500. 

“Five hundred (pesos)? Five hundred pesos? But we checked the app and it's saying it's only like 300. But to be honest it's only off by 5,000 won (about P198). What'd you say?” he said.

During the ride, Soobin asked the driver again,  “So, how much?”

“For you only P1,000,” the driver told them. 

They told him it was only P500. 

“Five hundred,” said the driver who changed the fare after they complained. 

The LTFRB issued a show cause with preventive suspension order against the taxi driver. 

Despite what happened, Soobin and his friend enjoyed their vacation in Cebu. 

The same thing happened to Joshua Hong, a member of K-pop boy band Seventeen, in Manila in October 2022. 

"We went to this five-star hotel, and I asked the hotel staff to overcharge my card and give me some cash with the amount that they overcharged my card. Thankfully, they did that for me. The taxi driver asked for like a thousand something in the Philippine peso, and I later found out that I had paid like three times more. Gosh…," said Joshua in a video.  

The LTFRB condemned condemned the incident. 

Here’s the full text of LTFRB’s order: 

“This refers to recent incident Involving a taxi passenger named Choi Soobin who rode the taxi unit with body number 4351 from Mactan Cebu International Airport and was victimized by alleged flagrant violations of overcharging and deliberate non-use of the taxi meter. 

“The same incident, already reported in social media, is also the subject of a complaint filed by MỌA Cebu through email and received in this Regional Office on April 02, 2026.

“Any glaring violation and disregard of basic LTFRB rules and regulations is detrimental to public service and causes far reaching damage and undue injury. Such is a clear violation of the CPC franchise terms and conditions. 

“Respondent operator is thus directed to submit its sworn written explanation to this Regional Office 7 within five (5) days from receipt hereof, and show cause why no disciplinary action shall be taken which could result in the suspension and cancellation of the subject CPC franchise. 

“In this regard, the franchise authority, if any, of the taxi unit with body number 4351 is hereby placed under preventive suspension for a period of thirty (30) days, effective immediately. Respondent-Operator is further directed to immediately surrender to this Regional Office the plate number of the subject taxi unit with body number 4351, as well as the LTO driver's license of the driver involved.. This is without prejudice to the final determination of the main adjudication proceedings. 

“This Show Cause Order is set for hearing on April 21, 2026, 2:00 PM at the LTFRB Regional Office No.7, Echavez St., Brgy, Lorega-San Miguel, Cebu City, Respondent- Operator, thru its duly authorized representative with proper authorization document, is directed to attend the said hearing and ensure that the driver concerned is likewise present, and bring copies of the franchise and registration documents, copy of the driver's LTO license, and such other pertinent documents. 

“So Ordered. 

“Cebu City, April 02, 2026”

ABOSAMEN H. MATUAN, M.SC 

Regional Director

Related Tags

Soobin Cebu LTFRB
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