LTO suspends 11 cabbies, TNVS drivers at NAIA for overcharging complaints

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has suspended the licenses of 11 taxi and transport network vehicle service (TNVS) drivers for 90 days following complaints of overcharging passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). 

“We already suspended a lot of erring taxi and TNVS drivers in the past weeks. Akala yata ng mga ito ay ningas cogon lang ang ginagawa natin, nagkakamali sila at itong 11 na drivers na ito ay patunay na tuloy tuloy ito,” said LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II in a statement on Monday. 

(We already suspended a lot of erring taxi and TNVS drivers in the past weeks. They thought we are doing nothing and they are wrong for thinking that because these 11 drivers are proof that we are taking action.)  

The suspension was an offshoot of a joint operation by the LTO and the Philippine National Police’s Aviation Security Group. Initial investigation showed that the erring drivers were charging passengers between P200 to P700 for only a short distance travel from NAIA Terminal 1 to Terminal 3, the LTO added. 

In the show-cause order issued against the 11 taxi and TNVS drivers, the LTO said that they were asked to explain why their driver’s licenses should not be revoked. 

“We also ordered them to immediately surrender their driver’s license. Dahil sa kanilang pananamantala, matagal-tagal o baka hindi na sila makapag-trabaho bilang taxi at TNVS drivers,” said Mendoza. 

(We also ordered them to immediately surrender their driver's licenses. Because of their exploitation, they might not be able to work as taxi and TNVS drivers for a long time, or perhaps never again.) 

The LTO said that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board will also conduct its own legal procedure on the case. 

The LTO earlier ordered the regular deployment of its personnel in NAIA terminals so commuters from the airport can easily report such cases of overcharging.