MANILA, Philippines - A Facebook video showing an abusive taxi driver harassing passengers is making rounds online.
In the controversial video posted by a certain J. A. Garcia on Tuesday, January 5, an unidentified cab driver, whose vehicle plate number is UWB666, was caught on camera threatening female passengers from SM North EDSA on their way to POEA in Mandaluyong City.
According to Garcia, the driver initially charged a P250 fixed fare. Garcia refused to accept his offer insisting that she would pay based on metered rate. When they reached POEA, Garcia gave the driver P200 expecting a P50 change. To Garcia’s surprise, the driver began violently shouting and cursing at her when she was asked for her change.
Although the taxi meter only registered P140, the driver stressed that Garcia should pay him P350. The driver, who refused to give their change, repeatedly cursed on Garcia and her companion and even threatened to hurt them if they wouldn’t alight the taxi.
When the driver noticed that Garcia was taking his video, he allegedly hurt her prompting them to get off the taxi. Reportedly, the driver only stopped harassing Garcia and her companion when he noticed several men in the area.
Garcia claims that the driver was high on drugs during the incident.
Watch the video of the incident.
As of press time, the video has gone viral getting over 6,000 shares on the social network.
While it’s not uncommon to encounter abusive taxi drivers in the country particularly in the metro, these drivers may soon have a taste of their own medicine through a Senate bill filed by former Senator Jinggoy Estrada last year.
Senate bill 2872 or the Act Penalizing the Charging of Taxi Fares which are Higher than the Official Rate, the Failure to Use the Taxi Meters or the Refusal to Carry without Cause Taxi Passengers to their Places of Destination aims to penalize drivers who refuse to take in passengers as well as those who charge fares higher than metered rates.
Taxi drivers who will violate will be fined at least P5000 and suspended from driving between one to five years. Meanwhile, operators with offending drivers will be charged between P10,000 and P20,000.
January 6 Update: The taxi driver identified as Roger Catipay,37, was presented by his employer Ariel Gamboa to the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) around 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
Catipay declined to undergo drug testing at the LTFRB. "Hindi po ako gumagamit ng droga," he said.
The driver added he is willing to apologize to Garcia for what happened.
"Opo, kung kailangan po. Tao lang po tayo, nagkakasala. Pasensiya na lang po. Kung ano ang dapat, kung may kasalanan po ako, haharapin ko po," he said.
However, he said he wants to continue driving since he has two young children.
"Kailangang-kailangan ko ng pera. Sa pamilya ko, dalawa ang naggagatas pa po," he said.
-Mini/TheSummitExpress
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| Abusive taxi driver caught on video. Screengrab from Facebook |
In the controversial video posted by a certain J. A. Garcia on Tuesday, January 5, an unidentified cab driver, whose vehicle plate number is UWB666, was caught on camera threatening female passengers from SM North EDSA on their way to POEA in Mandaluyong City.
According to Garcia, the driver initially charged a P250 fixed fare. Garcia refused to accept his offer insisting that she would pay based on metered rate. When they reached POEA, Garcia gave the driver P200 expecting a P50 change. To Garcia’s surprise, the driver began violently shouting and cursing at her when she was asked for her change.
Although the taxi meter only registered P140, the driver stressed that Garcia should pay him P350. The driver, who refused to give their change, repeatedly cursed on Garcia and her companion and even threatened to hurt them if they wouldn’t alight the taxi.
When the driver noticed that Garcia was taking his video, he allegedly hurt her prompting them to get off the taxi. Reportedly, the driver only stopped harassing Garcia and her companion when he noticed several men in the area.
Garcia claims that the driver was high on drugs during the incident.
Watch the video of the incident.
#UWB666 eto po ang pinaka nakakatakot na driver na nasakyan ko.. from sm north po sumakay ako sa nakapilang taxi ... sabi niya sakin 250 daw sabi ko naman naka metro naman kuya... And so i thought ok n si kuya sa metro... pero nung nasa POEA n kami inabot ko kay kuya ung 200 expecting a 50 change... din bigla nalang nagsisigaw si kuya eh GAGO ka pala, eh dapat nga 350 tapos sabi m sakin ikaw bahala at metro nalang.. so sabi kuya kaya nga i metro so 140 lang... tapos 3 beses ako ulit minura ayaw ibigay ang sukli, tapos sabi sakin ni kuya sasapakin ako pag di ako bumababa, nung makita nya na vinideo ko sya pinukpuk nya ako.. so bumababa na ako and nagstop ng video.. pero hinabol nya ako sa baba then mukhang sasapakin so sabi ko hali ka kuya sige subukan mo tapos natakot nalang sya dahil me mga tao and puro lalake nakatingin saknya and tinatawag ako para tawagin ung police... tsaka lang humarurot si kuya... una po high si kuya at kung ano ano pinagsasabi, pangalawa sana etong ganitong driver hindi kinukuha... papatay talaga si kuya literal... #nakakatakot sya sobra.#pakisharepo #walangnamengdriver
Posted by Joanna A Garcia on Monday, January 4, 2016
As of press time, the video has gone viral getting over 6,000 shares on the social network.
While it’s not uncommon to encounter abusive taxi drivers in the country particularly in the metro, these drivers may soon have a taste of their own medicine through a Senate bill filed by former Senator Jinggoy Estrada last year.
Senate bill 2872 or the Act Penalizing the Charging of Taxi Fares which are Higher than the Official Rate, the Failure to Use the Taxi Meters or the Refusal to Carry without Cause Taxi Passengers to their Places of Destination aims to penalize drivers who refuse to take in passengers as well as those who charge fares higher than metered rates.
Taxi drivers who will violate will be fined at least P5000 and suspended from driving between one to five years. Meanwhile, operators with offending drivers will be charged between P10,000 and P20,000.
January 6 Update: The taxi driver identified as Roger Catipay,37, was presented by his employer Ariel Gamboa to the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) around 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
Catipay declined to undergo drug testing at the LTFRB. "Hindi po ako gumagamit ng droga," he said.
The driver added he is willing to apologize to Garcia for what happened.
"Opo, kung kailangan po. Tao lang po tayo, nagkakasala. Pasensiya na lang po. Kung ano ang dapat, kung may kasalanan po ako, haharapin ko po," he said.
However, he said he wants to continue driving since he has two young children.
"Kailangang-kailangan ko ng pera. Sa pamilya ko, dalawa ang naggagatas pa po," he said.
-Mini/TheSummitExpress
