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The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said it is now investigating a taxi driver who allegedly tried to overcharge Korean idol Soobin of Tomorrow X Together during his recent visit to Cebu.

In a message to GMA News Online, LTFRB chairman, Vigor Mendoza II, said authorities are already working to locate the driver involved.

“Pinapahanap ko na ang taxi at ma-suspend operations ASAP,” he said.

Mendoza added that criminal charges will be filed against both the driver and the operator of the vehicle, aside from franchise violations.

“Enough is enough. Kung ayaw nila tumigil, starting today, sasampahan na rin natin ng kasong kriminal for violating the Public Service Act and estafa 'yung driver at operator. This is on top of the franchise violation. Impound rin ang sasakyan pending trial,” said Mendoza.

The statement came after Soobin shared a travel vlog showing a taxi driver asking him and a companion to pay P1,000 for a short ride from the airport to their hotel.

In the video, the driver told them that "gas is very expensive."

Meanwhile, in a separate interview, former LTFRB spokesperson and Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection (LCSP) founder, Ariel Inton, said rising fuel costs should not be used as a reason to overcharge passengers.

“Sa panahon ng crisis, mas mabigat dapat ang parusa sa mga nagsasamantala sa mga pasahero… Hindi dapat magsamantala ng pasahero, dayuhan man o Pilipino. Mahirap na sabihin na hayaan na lang natin 'yan… On the side of the commuters, hindi maaaring palampasin 'yan kasi ang mga mananakay ang nasasamantalahan,” he shared.

“There are so many passengers that understand the plight of the drivers. 'Wag na natin pagsamantalahan. Maaaring maintindihan natin bakit ginawa, pero di naman ito mag-e-exempt sa kanya sa penalty ng violation ng ginawa niya. We can understand them, but still he has to answer for what he did because those are the consequences of his actions na nagsamantala siya sa pasahero,” he added.

Inton also warned that incidents like this can affect the country's image, especially when they go viral.

"It places the country [in] a very bad light when it comes to tourism,” he said.

He also raised concerns about whether the driver may have done the same to other passengers.

“Sigurado ba tayo na 'di niya ginagawa 'yan sa ibang pasahero niya? Nagkataon lang na nag-viral siya kasi [si Soobin] ang pasahero niya, but may assurance ba tayong 'di niya ginawa sa iba 'yan? 'Pag pinalampas natin 'yan, gagawin at gagawin niya," he said.

"Mas marami pong pasahero ang mabibiktima. Sana mahuli na agad 'yan. If there is any information about him, I'm pretty sure the LTFRB and the [Land Transportation Office] ay kaagad aaksyon diyan,” he added.

This is not the first time a K-pop artist has reported a similar experience in the Philippines.

In 2022, Joshua Hong of Seventeen also shared that he was charged P1,000 by a taxi driver in Manila. The LTFRB then condemned the incident, calling it disappointing and embarrassing.

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