Taxi drivers forced to give 40% earnings to airport police, says viral driver

Drivers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) charge high taxi fares because they have to give 40 percent of their earnings to the airport police, according to the viral taxi driver.

In Dano Tingcungco’s Thursday report on “24 Oras,” the said taxi driver said if they don’t have a payoff, the Airport Police Department (APD) will give them a ticket, which they will redeem in the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said that he had ordered APD officers named in the alleged airport taxi scheme to report to him.

In a dzBB interview earlier today, Dizon said they have verified some of the five names provided by the taxi driver as actual officers of the APD and will be implementing immediate suspension.

“Immediate na proceedings na ito for termination... Kailangan lang muna mag-validate... Mayroon pang ibang drivers na willing magsalita, at magsabi kung sino ang mga nangingikil sa kanila... Ongoing ang imbestigasyon,” he shared.

(This will be an immediate proceeding for termination… We just have to validate… There are also other drivers who are willing to talk, and say who are extorting money from them… The investigation is ongoing.)

According to the driver, who went viral on social media for billing his passengers P1,200 for terminal transfers, officials of the APD demanded a 60-40 arrangement wherein they received 40% of the drivers’ earnings.

Non-compliance would cause taxi drivers to be held back from lining up at airport taxi bays and be sibject to harassment, tickets, and fines.

Usual fares ranged from P2,800 for simple terminal transfers up to P7,000 for long-haul drives to North Luzon provinces.

In response to a show cause order by the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the driver requested for an extension on providing his reasons to avoid suspension and was given until Monday.

On Thursday, he was able to meet with DOTr Secretary Dizon to discuss the arrangement between taxi drivers and airport police.

“Mabigat na problema ito... Nagpapasalamat tayo [kay driver] kasi naglakas loob siyang lumapit sa atin upang ikwento ang kalakaran dito sa mga taxi sa airport,” Dizon said.

(This is a heavy problem… We are thankful [for driver] because he took the risk of coming forward to tell us about the practice of taxis in the airport.)

“Hindi mangyayari ang mga ganitong pananamantala kung walang kasabwat sa loob at ito ang perfect example. Deka-dekada na siguro ito. Paulit-ulit na lang,” he added.

(These schemes will not happen if there was no accomplice inside, and this is the perfect example. This must have been going on for decades. It happens over and over again.)

On part of the DOTr, Dizon assured security and safety for “Felix” and said he will be talking to the LTO and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on the issue.

“Sa mga airport police na ito, hindi lang sa kawani ng gobyerno, sila ay nandiyan para protektahan ang mga kababayan natin. Pero ang ginagawa nila ay kabaligtaran... Ang ginagawa nila, inaabuso at sinasaktan nila ang mga kababayan natin,” he said.

(For these airport police personnel, they are not just government employees but they are also there to protect our countrymen. But what they are doing is the opposite… What they are doing is abusing and harming our countrymen.) — Jiselle Anne Casucian and Mariel Celine Serquiña/BAP, GMA Integrated News