Airport authorities arrested another taxi driver at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for overcharging a Chinese national and her companions.
Manila International Airport Authority chief information officer and spokesperson Connie Bungag identified the suspect as Eugenio del Rosario, driver of a white taxi with registration plate TXV-149.
Members of the Airport Police Department arrested Del Rosario following a complaint filed by Wang Wei who claimed the suspect demanded P6,000 fare from NAIA Terminal 3 to Terminal 1.
The foreigner stated that she and her friends arrived from Dumaguete at around 2 pm Friday and boarded the taxi driven by Del Rosario who charged them P6,000.
“Not knowing what to do and for fear of missing their flight back to China, they just paid the P6,000. Later, she sought help from the Terminal police station to complain,” said Bungag.
The driver was arrested three hours later while he was lining up at the taxi lane of NAIA Terminal 3.
Initial investigation revealed that Del Rosario was already arrested last July 8, 2019 for illegal parking. His driver’s license was confiscated. The suspect was driving with only an Official Violation Receipt (OVR) when he was arrested, police said.
Two months ago, a NAIA-accredited Yellow cab driver was also accused of overcharging two foreigners.
Shawn Gurcharran and Dil Mohammad, both tourists from the Republic of Guyana, claimed Arielano Gripo, 60, asked them to pay US$50 taxi fare from NAIA Terminal 1 to Ortigas, Pasig City.
Gripo surrendered later and asked the foreigners for forgiveness. Gurcharran and Mohammed opted not file charges against Gripo as he promised to return their taxi fare.
Airport authorities this year banned white taxis from picking up passengers at the airpot due to abusive drivers.
Among other infractions committed by the non-accredited taxi drivers were reckless driving, refusal to convey passengers, contracting, arrogance, no proper queuing and death threat to their clients.
Once the drivers committed grave abuse against the passengers, the MIAA will report the case with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to go against the driver and the operator of taxi.