THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) said it has issued a 90-day preventive suspension on the driver’s license of a taxi driver caught in a now-viral video while charging a foreign tourist P10,000 fare at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
In a statement, LTO Chief Atty. Vigor Mendoza II said they already issued a Show Cause Order (SCO) against the driver of the taxi with license plate ABG 7845 and ordered to explain why no sanction should be imposed for violations of at least three provisions of the Joint Administrative Order 2014-01 for overcharging passengers, discourteous and arrogant to passengers and violation of the franchise.
Citing the result of the investigation, Mendoza said the taxi driver was identified as Arnel Acle.
“Under the guidance of Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, we are now coordinating with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on the sanctions that may be imposed on the operator of the taxi,” said Mendoza.
Secretary Bautista earlier disclosed that the entire fleet of the taxi company that owns the cab will no longer be allowed to operate at the NAIA.
Mendoza said the incident, which went viral in the social media, was a clear violation of the law. An investigation was then conducted that led to the identification of the taxi and the driver through a CCTV.
The taxi was seen in the parking area of the taxi company in Valenzuela City and based on the statement of the operator after the video went viral, Acle told them that he would go on vacation in his province.
Acle, however, did not report for work since he last appeared to remit his earnings to the taxi owner on December 19 and is believed to have gone into hiding.
“We are now coordinating with the Philippine National Police and our local offices to locate this man. Hindi tayo papayag na palampasin na lang ang ginawa niya dahil nagdulot ito ng kahihiyan sa ating bansa, at sa lahat ng Pilipino,” said Mendoza.
“The preventive suspension we issued on the driver’s license of Mr. Acle is our way of sending a strong message to these errant drivers that we will do everything in our power to make them responsible for any illegal activities,” he added.