LTFRB conducts ops vs. abusive cabbies anew, urges commuters to file complaints

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board again conducted operations against several taxi drivers who were caught charging passengers with contracted fares instead of those based on their meters.

According to a report by Steve Dailisan on "24 Oras", cab driver Reymundo Manalo was given a traffic violation ticket after Sheikh Rahman, an Indian, complained of being forced to pay P200 for a short transit between NAIA Terminal 3 to Terminal 4.

"Ang mentality ng driver dito ganun nga, 'pag foreigner kailangan kontratahin kagad. Hindi niya alam, yung nakontrata niya,  parang sanay na dito sa kalakaran natin. Marunong nang mag-Tagalog," said Jerome Cabotaje of the LTFRB technical division.

Elaine Eclipse said she was also asked for a contracted fare by Manalo but decided not to pursue charges.

"Nakakaawa. Matanda na siya," Eclipse said.

Commuters were urged to report such incidents to the LTFRB to cut down on the number of taxi drivers who continue to violate taxi regulations.

"Kahit offer-an kayo ng price, always ang isasagot niyo lagi, metro tayo dahil metered taxi tayo. Ganun lang. Sinsasabi naman namin sa kanila," Cabotaje said.

"Ang isip na nila, mindset na nila na ganun nga, 'pag sinabihan sila ng presyo, kinakagat na nila kagad," he added.

Taxi drivers caught charging fixed rates may be fined, suspended, or have their franchises cancelled. —NB, GMA News