Gutsy guard vs crafty cabbie

A taxi driver was arrested Tuesday afternoon after he and his accomplice allegedly coerced a returning overseas Filipino worker (OFW) into paying P1,200 for a short ride from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) to a bus terminal in Pasay City, a distance normally costing just about a fifth of that amount.

Police said this scam had been victimizing arriving passengers at Naia, especially those who hail cabs at the departure section instead of taking accredited yellow taxis at the arrival bay.

It took a security guard of Victory Liner bus company to apprehend Jaime Naval, 44, after the guard sensed that Naval and his female passenger were having a heated exchange over the exorbitant fare.

Naval’s male partner—a “barker” identified only as “Hapon” who helped him get passengers at Naia and who also boarded the cab when the targeted victim got in—was able to escape.

Naval and the barker allegedly intimidated and overcharged Mona Liza Dy, 38, who took Naval’s white Donamil taxi (TXY 858) at Naia’s Terminal 2 around 2 p.m. Tuesday and asked to be taken to the Victory Liner terminal on Edsa, Pasay.

SPO1 Faustino Erlano Jr. noted that Dy, instead of taking one of the yellow taxis queued at the Naia arrival bay, opted for a regular cab at the departure area, thinking it would be cheaper. Dy had just arrived after working for three months in Hong Kong.

In a complaint, Dy said the barker approached her at the departure bay and pointed him to Naval’s cab, even helping her load her luggage. Before she boarded, the barker assured her that she only had to pay the amount based on the meter reading.

But to her surprise, Dy said, the barker also got into the cab, taking the front passenger seat and claiming he was just hitching a ride to a nearby destination.

While on their way to the Victory Liner terminal on Edsa, Naval and Hapon suddenly demanded P1,200 from the woman, saying it was the usual rate going to that area.

Dy said she initially refused but finally gave in because the two men were insistent. Upon arrival at the bus terminal, Dy handed the P1,200 to the driver—but complained loudly about the racket.

Security guard Benjie Siniming noticed the heated exchange between the victim and the driver. He was approaching the vehicle when it drove off.

The armed guard then gave chase using a company car of Victory Liner and cornered Naval near Heritage Hotel, Erlano said.

Siniming got hold of the driver but failed to secure Hapon who ran toward Roxas Boulevard.