Taxi driver strikes again; accused of robbing OFW

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MANILA, Philippines – A taxi driver who was earlier arrested for overcharging a passenger was collared again by the police for allegedly robbing an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who just arrived in the country.

Police said cabbie Orestes Quizon, 48, of Las Piñas City, was first arrested in 2017 when he allegedly threatened to hit a passenger with a tire wrench after the latter refused to pay the P1,250 fare which Quizon was charging him.

MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal said Sunday that the latest incident involving Quintos happened last April 17 coming from the Naia Terminal 2.

Monreal said that an overseas Filipino worker (OFW), Karen Mitschel, had just arrived in the country from Hong Kong when she and a companion took the white taxi driven by Quintos.

Mitschel asked the driver to take them to the Five Star bus station along EDSA in Pasay City.

While on board, Quintos reportedly told Mitschel that the fare from the airport to the bus station was P2,400.

Having just arrived from abroad, Mitschel asked the driver that they stop at a foreign exchange shop to get local currency.

However, when the companion of Mitschel alighted the vehicle, Quintos allegedly drove off with her still inside the taxi.

According to Mitschel, the driver demanded her cellphone and money while threatening to shoot her.

Fearing for her life, she handed Quintos her cellphone and $40 cash. Quintos then reportedly left her along C-5 extension near Gatchalian Village in Las Pinas City.

Mitschel reported the incident to authorities who were able to identify the taxi company and the plate number of the vehicle based on the Miaa copy of the dispatch slips.

According to a representative of the taxi company, Quizon was a new hire who had not remitted his boundary for two consecutive days prior to the incident.

They were later able to trace the location of the taxi, which was abandoned along Calamansi Street in Las Piñas.

Naia and Las Piñas police arrested Quintos who faced inquest proceedings later that afternoon.

Following the incident, Monreal warned OFWs and the public against taking taxis outside the arrival area of the Naia terminals

“Regular white taxis are not accredited by the Miaa, but are allowed to take passengers based on public clamor for a choice to take regular metered taxis,” Monreal said.

“Before the regular white taxis were allowed at the NAIA arrival curbside, many passengers would walk from the arrival area to the departure level or outside the NAIA Complex to get regular white taxis. At least at the Miaa taxi queue, dispatch slips can provide a record of the taxi that the passengers take from Naia,” Monreal continued.

“We remind our passengers to make sure they keep the copy of their dispatch slips or take note of the plate number of the taxi they board for reference in case they have something to complain about,” he added. /cbb