LTO probes driver for scamming, overcharging passengers

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued a show cause order to the registered owner and driver of the vehicle allegedly overcharging passengers while posing as a legitimate transportation network vehicle service (TNVS) provider.

The LTO announced this in a statement on Tuesday after a social media post surfaced, claiming that the driver of a black sport utility vehicle (SUV) near SM North Edsa in Quezon City picked him up and pretended that his vehicle was Grab-accredited while seeking a larger fare.

The LTO said its Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID) ordered the vehicle’s owner and driver to explain the incident in a hearing at 10 a.m. on Jan. 31.

The driver is being asked to submit an explanation as to why he was driving a so-called colorum vehicle or a TNVS unit without a franchise, which would violate the Private Motor Vehicle Operating as For-Hire under the Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01, according to the LTO.

It further noted that the driver may have his license suspended or revoked if found to be an “improper person to operate a motor vehicle” as stated under Republic Act No. 4136.

The LTO has also raised the alarm on the plate number of the purportedly illegitimate TNVS unit while the investigation is ongoing.

“Sakaling mabigo ang may-ari at drayber ng SUV na humarap sa IID upang magpaliwanag ay mangangahulugan ito ng pagsuko ng kanilang karapatan na mailahad ang panig at magpapasya ang LTO IID batay sa mga nakalap na ebidensya,” it added.

(Should the owner and the SUV driver fail to appear before the IID to explain, this would mean they are revoking their right to express their side and the LTO IID will make its decision based on the gathered evidence.)

LTO chief Jose Arturo Tugade reminded the public that a driver’s license is a privilege given to qualified individuals only and, therefore, should not be taken advantage of.

“Mas lalong hindi pwede na gamitin ang pribilehiyo na ito para manloko ng mga tao lalo ng mga pasahero na desperadong makauwi o makarating sa kanilang destinasyon [All the more should this privilege not be used to deceive people, especially passengers who are just desperate to make it home or to their destination],” he added.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) earlier said its chairman Teofilo Guadiz III had instructed the agency’s regional directors to bolster anti-colorum operations in their respective coverage areas.

From September to December 2022, LTFRB said a total of 37 vehicles allegedly engaged in colorum operations were apprehended in Metro Manila and in the areas under the Metro Manila Urban Transportation Integration Study Update and Capacity Enhancement Program.

This, it noted, netted fines worth more than P7 million.

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JPV//abc