LTFRB slaps rude taxi driver with P6T fine

CEBU, Philippines - Even if the complainant chose to forgive, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board –7 fined the driver who lambasted his passengers when a one-year-old child threw up inside his cab.

Atty. Edwin Antepuesto, LTFRB hearing officer, said they have forwarded Bebiano Dapal Jr.’s license to the Land Transportation Office where he will have to pay the P6,000 fine.

Dapal is supposed to  pay a total of P18,000 for his behavior and for demanding that his passengers pay him P2,000, but the charges against him were dropped when the complainant decided to forgive him.

Still, LTFRB regional director Rey Elnar said they could not just let him go unpunished.

“Di man sad mahimo nga di na lang gyud siya e-penalize kay, as admitted, nakasala man gyud siya. Para sab ma-disiplina siya nga sa sunod, di na niya buhaton sa uban,” Elnar said.

After a hearing yesterday, LTFRB found Dapal arrogant, discourteous, and having overcharged his passenger. He would have paid P6,000 for each offense had the complaint, Wella Mae Olmedo, decided to pursue the complaint. 

Olmedo said she and her nephew took Dapal’s taxi from Talamban in Cebu City to the Birhen sa Regla Church in Lapu-Lapu City when her nephew threw up inside the vehicle. Dapal reportedly lambasted them and demanded that they pay P2,000.

Olmedo said they did not give in to Dapal’s demand and, instead, reported the incident to his taxi company.

She also shared the incident on Facebook.

Antepuesto said Dapal was adamant at first during the hearing yesterday but eventually toned down when he was told of the total fine.

“Pag pirmiro gahi gyud ang driver. Di gyud siya mangayo og pasaylo. Pero pagkahibalo niya nga daghan siya og violations and he has to pay P18,000 nihilak kay di daw siya makabayad. Diha pa siya nangayo og pasaylo sa complainant,” Antepuesto said.

Olmedo said she has forgiven Dapal but she also wanted to teach him a lesson.

“Nihilak siya unya nangayo og pasaylo. Akoa na lang pud gipasaylo kay buotan ra man pud ang operator sa taxi,” Olmedo said.

Elnar, meanwhile, said drivers must show respect to their passengers.

“Drivers should be courteous all the time. Di nimo yawyawan.imong pasahero,” he said. — (FREEMAN)