Eleven public utility vehicles (PUVs) operating within the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have been apprehended for overcharging passengers and committing franchise violations, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) confirmed Thursday.
During a Malacañang Press Corps briefing on 26 June, Transport Secretary Vince Dizon said all 11 PUVs have been suspended, including the licenses of their drivers, pending investigation.
“All of these taxi operators have been suspended while under investigation, including the suspension of the drivers' licenses,” Dizon said.
He added that an investigation is underway into alleged collusion between taxi drivers and airport police. The probe is being led by Office of Transportation Security (OTS) Administrator Ato Bisnar and Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Eric Ines.
Dizon emphasized that even foreign tourists have fallen victim to the overcharging scheme, calling it a national embarrassment that must be addressed urgently.
Earlier, on 19 June, five members of the NAIA Terminal 3 Police Section were relieved from duty over their suspected involvement in the extortion racket. Dizon previously disclosed that some airport police allegedly receive 40 percent of the inflated fares they help impose.
The crackdown comes in the wake of a viral video showing a passenger being charged P1,260 for a short trip from NAIA Terminal 2 to Terminal 3. The vehicle involved was registered as private, not as a public utility vehicle.
The driver and operator now face charges for violating Section 18 in relation to Section 24 of Commonwealth Act 146, as amended by Republic Act No. 11659 or the Public Service Act, which prohibits operating a public service without proper certification.