The Philippine National Police – Aviation Security Group (PNP-Avsegroup) on Thursday announced the arrest of 14 drivers in the ongoing crackdown on abusive and illegal public transport providers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The PNP-Avsegroup, in coordination with the Land Transportation Office, arrested 10 taxi drivers for breach of franchise and overcharging violations, while four private vehicles were intercepted for illegally operating as “for hire” without the proper authorization from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
The drivers and operators are now facing administrative action, while the vehicles were impounded at the PNP Avsegroup Headquarters for documentation.
“We will not tolerate abusive drivers and operators here in NAIA. Our operations will continue until violators realize that the law must be respected at all times,” said Avsegroup chief Brig. Gen. Jay Reyes Cumigad.
The LTO earlier placed the licenses of 11 taxi and transport network vehicle service (TNVS) drivers under a 90-day preventive suspension following complaints of overcharging passengers at the airport.
The drivers were caught in a joint operation, targeting those involved in snubbing, overcharging, and illegal contracting.
Initial findings revealed that the drivers charged between P200 and P700 for short trips between NAIA Terminals 1 and 3—amounts significantly higher than the usual fare.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon and Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Eric Jose Ines initiated the crackdown in June in response to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to protect passengers from exploitation by taxi drivers.
This crackdown follows reports that five members of the Airport Police Department (APD) at NAIA Terminal 3 were implicated in a 60/40 extortion scheme involving taxi drivers. This scheme, reportedly initiated by some corrupt airport police officers, requires taxi drivers to pay a commission, which then forces them to overcharge passengers to recover their costs.
The scheme came to light after a taxi driver was arrested for allegedly overcharging a passenger by ₱1,200 for a short trip between NAIA Terminals 3 and 2. The driver revealed that the people orchestrating this racket were APD members who impose high rates on fares, taking 40% of the overcharged amount, ultimately burdening the passengers.
The five APD personnel named in the initial report have been relieved of their duties pending the results of an administrative investigation.
