By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Monday (Aug. 4) preventively suspended the license of 11 taxi and Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers over complaints of overcharging passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II said that the suspension of the driver’s license for 90 days of the taxi and TNVS drivers is pursuant to the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. to run after erring public utility vehicles (PUV) drivers who are taking advantage of commuters.
“We already suspended a lot of erring taxi and TNVS drivers in the past weeks. Akala yata ng mga ito ay ningas cogon lang ang ginagawa natin, nagkakamali sila at itong 11 na drivers na ito ay patunay na tuloy-tuloy ito,” Asec. Mendoza said.
“Ito ang mahigpit na bilin sa atin ni Secretary Dizon na huwag tantanan ang mga abusadong drivers ng taxi at TNVS na ito dahil nadadamay ang mga marami pa ring mga taxi at TNVS drivers na mga matitino,” he added.
The suspension of the driver’s license was an offshoot of the recent joint operation by the LTO and the Philippine National Police, through its Aviation Security Group, against taxi and TNVS drivers who are engaged in contracting, snubbing and overcharging passengers.
Initial investigation of the LTO-Intelligence and Investigation Division headed by its chief, Renante Melitante, showed that the 11 taxi and TNVS drivers were charging their passengers from P200 to P700 for a short distance travel from NAIA Terminal 1 to Terminal 3.
Mendoza earlier ordered the regular deployment of LTO personnel at the NAIA terminals in order for commuters to immediately act on cases of overcharging.
In the SCO (Show Cause Order) issued to the 11 taxi and TNVS drivers, they were asked to explain why their driver’s license should not be revoked for being an improper person to operate a motor vehicle.
“We also ordered them to immediately surrender their driver’s license. Dahil sa kanilang pananamantala, matagal-tagal o baka hindi na sila makapag-trabaho bilang taxi at TNVS drivers,” Mendoza said.
The LTO action is separate from the legal procedure that will be conducted by the LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) in relation to the franchise of the 11 taxis and TNVS. ###
