LTO asks 'Oplan Isnabero' complainants to show up at hearing

Land Transportation Office has called on "Oplan Isnabero" complainants to make sure that they will show up on the day of the hearing at the LTO in order to nail erring taxi drivers. LTO chief Reynaldo Berroya said complainants must be present during the hearing not only to back their compliant but also for the LTO to make sure that the complaint is legitimate. "Anyone can send us a complaint through text messaging and for us to find out if the charges are legitimate the complainant must appear during the hearing," Berroya said. The LTO earlier said that it already suspended 1,000 public utility vehicle drivers for one month in connection with its "Oplan Isnabero" program launched last December. The suspended drivers were summoned for refusal to convey passengers, using defective taximeter and over charging or asking additional cash other than the rate indicated on the taximeter. At least 500 subpoenas will be sent to erring drivers and the complainants Monday next week, the LTO said. Berroya said the agency has assigned four legal officers to speed up the hearings. Drivers that will be found guilty will be suspended for one month and will have to pay a fine of P1,500. "We want to send a message to our taxi drivers that the LTO will not go easy on them. We understand their situation but they have a responsibility to the commuters," he said, adding, LTO has a conviction rate of 90 percent.- GMANews.TV