SCAMMERS know every well that those who depart or arrive from any of our airports have money.
That’s why they are a tempting target for those out to make the unsuspecting and the unwary part with their hard-earned money.
But their days are numbered.
The Land Transportation Office recently suspended the licenses of 10 drivers of taxi and Transportation Network Vehicle Service for overcharging and contracting passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City.
The agency has issued show cause orders to the drivers who were caught during a surprise operation at the NAIA last June 25.
According to LTO Chief/DOTr Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor Mendoza, the agency has informed these drivers of the suspension of their licenses for 90 days through the SCOs that have been issued to them for taking advantage of airport commuters.
The LTO apprehended the drivers who face charges of being improper persons to operate a motor vehicle, which carries a maximum penalty of revocation of their licenses.
The agency ordered the deployment of LTO enforcers in three NAIA terminals after three viral incidents of overcharging: a taxi driver who charged a passenger of P1,300 for a short trip from NAIA Terminal 2 to Terminal 3; another driver who charged a passenger of over P5,000 in a separate trip from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2; and a motorcycle taxi rider who charged a passenger P2,000 from NAIA to Cainta, Rizal.
The LTO has warned that cases of overcharging and contracting passengers can taint the image of the country to foreign tourists.
“We will not let this kind of abuse pass. If this can be done to our constituents, what more to our foreign tourists. This can be bad for the image of our country,” Mendoza pointed out.
The DOTr has also moved to prevent similar scams from taking place at NAIA.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon recently relieved five airport police from their posts for their involvement in an alleged “60/40” extortion scheme targeting taxi drivers at the NAIA.
Dizon said termination proceedings were initiated against the policemen.
He also ordered the Manila International Airport Authority to investigate the extortion scheme in line President Marcos Jr.’s directive to government personnel to serve the public and not abuse their authority.
The DOTr investigation began after a taxi driver belonging to Taxihub Transport revealed a 60/40 extortion scheme imposed by NAIA policemen in which taxi drivers are forced to surrender a portion of their earnings, leading many to overcharge passengers at the airport to make up for their loss.
The government is on the right track in going after scammers of all sorts in our airports, not only to protect our domestic and foreign tourism industries, but also to demonstrate its commitment to the rule of law.
