Authorities have apprehended 11 public utility vehicles (PUVs) operating at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for allegedly overcharging passengers and committing franchise violations.

Department of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon announced the apprehensions during a Malacañang Press Corps briefing on Thursday.

“All of these taxi operators have been suspended while under investigation, including the suspension of the drivers’ licenses,” Dizon said.

Investigations are also underway into alleged collusion between taxi drivers and airport police. Office of Transportation Security Administrator Ato Bisnar and Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Eric Ines will lead the probe.

Dizon stressed that even foreign tourists are falling victim to the overcharging schemes, calling the situation “an embarrassment that must be stopped.”

On 19 June, five airport police officers from NAIA Terminal 3 Police Section were relieved from their posts due to alleged involvement in extortion. Dizon previously stated that airport police allegedly received 40 percent of the inflated taxi fares.

The recent crackdown follows a viral video in which a passenger was charged P1,260 for a ride from NAIA Terminal 2 to NAIA Terminal 3. The vehicle in question was also registered as a private vehicle, not a PUV.

The driver and operator involved in that incident face charges for violating Section 18 in relation to Section 24 of Commonwealth Act 146, as amended by Republic Act 11659, or the Public Service Act. This act prohibits operating a public service business without proper certification.