The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) warned taxi drivers of overcharging commuters following the case of a cabbie who demanded P2000 from a foreign tourist for a five-minute trip from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

On Saturday, Aug. 8, LTFRB chairman Vigor D. Mendoza II said they already suspended for 30 days the operation of the involved taxi and asked the operator to explain why the franchise should not be revoked over the incident.

He also encouraged the public to report abuses to the LTFRB and in the case of this incident, he said this was monitored by the agency’s social media team after the victim posted a video of the incident.

Based on the vlog, the taxi driver charged a foreigner P2,000 for a short trip from the airport to the destination and the worst part is that the driver also allowed another person to ride on the vehicle.

“This is a gross violation of the franchise rules and regulations. No passenger, much more foreign tourists whom we should welcome to the country, deserves this kind of treatment,” said Mendoza.

“But we will give the operator the chance to explain as part of the due process. In the meantime, however, the operation of that taxi is temporarily suspended,” he added.

The operator was also tasked to surrender the license plate of the taxi on or before the Aug. 19 hearing.

The operator was also directed to have the taxi driver involved to undergo both a road safety seminar and a drug test.

Mendoza said these were all stated in the show cause order issued to the operator which also asked for an explanation why no sanction should be imposed for glaring violation of for the alleged failure to provide safe, reliable, and convenient public land transportation service.

This is aside from the case of overcharging of fare.