Philippine airports are still surrounded by erring taxi drivers.
On Wednesday, authorities arrested two taxi drivers operating at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport after discovering that the taxi units were equipped with a device used to cheat passengers.
Elements of the Airport Police Department in coordination with officials of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, made the arrest during separate operations at Naia Terminals 1 and 2.
The drivers were identified as Victor Pastrana of Royal HM Taxi and Rey Monsalod of First Mass Transport. The taxi units were towed at the MIAA-LTFRB impounding site situated at the old Nayong Pilipino complex.
Eddie Monreal, general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority, also ordered the confiscation and cancellation of airport access passes issued to Monsalod and Pastrana.
He said the two were caught using a device called “batingting” in their taxi units to cheat passengers.
Experts said batingting is a device installed at the car motor engine connected at the front wheels to make the meter run faster than the usual.
The apprehension came after Monreal’s office received information about the existence of a modus involving taxi units operating at the airport using the device to cheat incoming and outgoing air travelers.
Monreal tapped his assistant manager for security and emergency service Arnulfo Junio to conduct the joint operation with the LTFRB that resulted in the apprehension of the drivers and the impounding of their units.
MIAA records showed that a video blogger identified as one Mikey Chen was among the passenger-victims who complained about questionable fare rates of taxi units at the airport. Chen was victimized when he arrived in Manila late last month.
Chen reportedly paid a taxi driver some P2,300 for a short ride within Metro Manila.
“We are receiving many complaints from our passengers so we started to operate on this,” said Monreal.
Monreal appealed to passengers to avoid dealing with solicitors, and keep away from unmarked vehicles. He also advised passengers to report any abusive drivers who take advantage while on a trip.
Last month, authorities also arrested a cab driver who overcharged a lady passenger at Naia Terminal 2.
Suspect Ramon Leoligao was charged with swindling, estafa and unjust vexation before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office on the complaints filed by Suzanne Nagac, who reportedly works as one of the fashion design consultants of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Last year, hundreds of regular or white taxi units were banned from lining up and picking passengers at the airport terminals due to various complaints of abuses and illegal activities.
Among other infractions committed by the non-accredited taxi drivers include reckless driving, refusal to convey passengers, contracting, arrogance, no proper queuing and death threat to their clients.
In July 2016, Monreal gave the go signal for regular taxis to line up and pick passengers at the Naia following complaints about the lack of affordable transportation.
The move, according to Monreal, was made to give passengers other option or choice of transportation to their destination. He said allowing the white taxis will also address the shortage of airport accredited transportation units.
To ensure safety of the riding public, dispatch slip with the name of the driver, taxi plate number, name of the operator and the important hotline numbers will be given to passengers while a copy of the taxi slip will be retained by the dispatcher at the airport.
Monreal assured that every complaint made by passengers will be resolved within 72 hours.
Airport authorities said major passenger terminals have thousands of incoming passengers a day, most of them arriving practically at the peak-hour window. They added that the MIAA has been criticized for the lack of transportation which is why the authority decided opening the airport to non-accredited taxi companies.