Cabs, TNVS drivers’ license suspended amid fare overcharging

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) announced Monday it has preventively suspended the licenses of 11 taxi and Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers accused of overcharging passengers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II said the 90-day license suspensions align with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to crack down on public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers who exploit commuters.

“We already suspended a lot of erring taxi and TNVS drivers in the past weeks,” Mendoza said. “They might think we are just doing ‘ningas cogon’ but they are mistaken. These 11 drivers prove that this is continuous.”

Mendoza added that Department of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon had given strict instructions to relentlessly pursue abusive taxi and TNVS drivers, as their actions negatively impact honest drivers.

The suspensions stemmed from a recent joint operation by the LTO and the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group targeting taxi and TNVS drivers involved in contracting, snubbing, and overcharging passengers.

Initial investigations by the LTO’s Intelligence and Investigation Division, led by chief Renante Melitante, found the 11 drivers charged passengers P200 to P700 for short trips, such as from NAIA Terminal 1 to Terminal 3.

Mendoza previously ordered the regular deployment of LTO personnel at NAIA terminals to allow for immediate action on overcharging complaints.