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The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has called in the taxi operator linked to an alleged scam attempt involving K-pop idol and TXT leader Choi Soobin during his recent vacation in Cebu.

The incident spread rapidly online after Soobin shared it in a vlog, where he detailed an encounter with a taxi driver who reportedly raised the fare several times during the ride from the airport to their hotel. He said the driver initially quoted ₱500, allegedly due to high fuel costs. By the end of the trip, the amount had supposedly doubled to ₱1,000, leading Soobin to refuse payment and say he would report the matter.

On April 3, the LTFRB released a show cause order in relation to the incident, saying that Soobin was “victimized by alleged flagrant violations of overcharging and deliberate non-use of the taxi meter” by a taxi unit based at Mactan Cebu International Airport.

The agency further highlighted the severity of the alleged breach, noting that “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.”

The LTFRB also instructed the operator to submit a sworn written explanation to its Regional Office 7 within five days, and to show cause why no disciplinary action should be imposed that may lead to the suspension or cancellation of the concerned CPC franchise.

While the probe continues, the agency placed taxi unit number 4351 under a 30-day preventive suspension. Authorities further ordered the surrender of the vehicle's plate number as well as the driver's license, clarifying that the action is “without prejudice to the final determination of the main adjudication proceedings.”

Together with the show cause order, LTFRB Chairperson Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II stressed the seriousness of the case, noting its potential impact beyond the local setting.

“This is a serious offense especially that this incident puts the name of our country in bad light in the international community. The viral video itself is already strong evidence,” Mendoza said.

Meanwhile, Soobin still made the most of his Cebu visit, taking a three-day vacation after TXT's Dunkin' Fun Meet at the MOA Arena on March 8. He spent his time engaging in activities such as swimming, ziplining, scuba diving, and exploring local food spots. He also met fans, or MOAs, during a restaurant visit, wrapping up his trip on a positive note despite the earlier experience.

The case also draws parallels to a similar incident in 2022, when SEVENTEEN member Joshua Hong shared that he was charged ₱1,000 by a taxi driver in Manila.

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