The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has issued a show cause order (SCO) against a taxi operator over an alleged scamming attempt involving South Korean singer Choi Soobin in Cebu City.

As stated in the SCO, the LTFRB ordered the taxi operator to surrender the taxi’s license plate and the driver’s license of the driver involved in the incident.

“This is a serious offense especially that this incident puts the name of our country in bad light in the international community. The viral video itself is already strong evidence,’ LTFRB Chairperson Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II said on Friday.

According to LTFRB, Chairperson Mendoza explained that the incident is clearly a violation of the basic LTFRB rules and regulations and the terms and conditions of the Certificate of Public Conveyance (CPC).

“The operator was given the chance to explain in writing why its franchise should not be revoked over the incident. A hearing was already scheduled on April 21”, LTFRB said in a recent press release statement.

Based on the YouTube vlog posted by Tomorrow X Together (TXT), Soobin’s K-pop team, the Korean singer's friend asked the driver if the taxi fare was P500, noting that the app showed P300, but the driver responded that due to expensive fuel, the fare was P1,000.

Following the viral scam incident, the LTFRB Region 7 (Central Visayas) held its initial investigation and found that the taxi unit involved, with body number 4351, was allegedly guilty of overcharging and deliberately not using the taxi meter.

LTFRB said that Korean singer Soobin rode the taxi while on vacation in the Philippines, particularly from Mactan Cebu International Airport.

In response to the overcharging incident, the regulation board ordered a 30-day suspension of the taxi unit involved.

“We are with the taxi drivers who follow the rules and regulations, but we will make sure that we will send a strong message on what will happen if they ignore and defy the rules and regulations at the expense of the passengers,” LTFRB Chief said.

Mendoza also implied that the incident involving scamming tourists is not aligned with Filipino values, stressing that poverty is not a valid excuse and that many Filipinos work honestly and do not take advantage of others.