The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has suspended the operations of an electric vehicle (EV) taxi after its driver allegedly helped stage a robbery prank with two vloggers, an incident the agency said compromised passenger safety and undermined public trust.

In the viral video, the driver announced that a robbery was taking place before two vloggers entered the vehicle and pretended to rob the passengers as part of the prank.

“This is not funny. Instead, it brings fear to our fellow citizens who regularly ride taxis and transport network vehicle services (TNVS),” LTFRB chairperson Vigor Mendoza II said.

“We will look into this, and we assure the public that appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken,” he added.

The LTFRB immediately imposed a 30-day preventive suspension on the EV taxi while the investigation is ongoing.

The agency also issued a show cause order to Green and Smart Mobility Philippines Inc., the operator of the EV taxi, after the vehicle owner was accused of conspiring with the vloggers to stage the prank.

According to the LTFRB, the incident constitutes a violation of the terms and conditions governing the operation of public utility vehicles, particularly the obligation to provide safe, secure and convenient public transportation services.

Mendoza urged public utility vehicle operators and drivers to work with the government in restoring public confidence in the country’s transportation system by ensuring the safety and welfare of passengers.