Cabbie scolds woman, defies P10 rate cut

CEBU, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 received another complaint against an overcharging taxi driver, this time from a senior citizen.

Emil Membrillas, LTFRB-7 in-charge of the Complaint and Action Section, said he was able to talk with Flora Sameon who aired her complaint over radio station dyAB.

Membrillas said Sameon cried as she narrated what happened to her when she rode a taxi from a mall along Colon St. to Sanciangco St.

"Naghilak ang babaye samtang nag-istorya mi kay matud pa niya, gibinaboy siya og kasaba sa taxi driver sa dihang wa niya matarong og sira ang pultahan sa taxi," said Membrillas.

And what made the matter worse was that the taxi driver did not give her the P10 fare discount, Membrillas said, relaying Sameon’s statement.

Acting on the complaint, Membrillas called up the operator of the taxi, who agreed to cooperate and allow the complained driver to meet Sameon in a hearing today at the LTFRB-7 office.

Meanwhile, Membrillas said the summons intended for the eight taxi drivers who were earlier complained for overcharging were already signed by LTFRB-7 director Reynaldo Elnar.

"Sa pagka-karon, akoa pa gipangtawgan ang mga complainants kung what time sila available para sa hearing," the LTFRB-7 official said.

On the other hand, LTFRB-7 is giving taxi passenger-complainant Dave Horca and taxi driver Jose Ramos three days starting yesterday to execute their respective sworn statements.

It can be recalled that Horca alleged that Ramos threatened him and his wife with a knife when they asked for a fare discount.

Such allegation, however, was denied by Ramos during a hearing two weeks ago.

The LTFRB implemented a nationwide taxi fare reduction of P10 starting March 9, 2015 amidst the continued reduction in fuel prices. — (FREEMAN)