‘Colorum’ taxi driver caught without a license at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines—With the end of the long holiday break and the arrival of travelers from the provinces, the aviation police has vowed to crack down on taxi drivers robbing passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

On New Year’s Eve at 12:05 p.m., the Philippine National Police’s aviation security group (AVSG) apprehended a taxi driver identified as Danilo Catapay at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport while he was waiting for passengers at the curbside of the NAIA Terminal 4 near the exit of the departure area.

Chief Supt. Christopher Laxa, head of the aviation security group, said the taxi driver was caught handing over a P50 bill to a security guard, an apparent bribe so he would be allowed to pick up passengers.

The security guard identified as Jover Ramos of Advance Security, has been placed under investigation by the airport authorities, Laxa said. Catapay, who was driving a white taxi with plate UWK 335, on the other hand, could not present the police his driver’s license.

A traffic violation receipt was issued to the driver while the police are still determining if the driver was involved in robbery cases in the city.

“In most cases, those preying on the passengers were colorum taxi drivers,” Laxa said recounting an incident in Makati when a man from the Netherlands was recently robbed in Makati by a taxi driver he flagged outside the NAIA 3.

The aviation police has intensified their operation against colorum drivers and robberies in the taxi especially over the weekend when thousands of people would return from their vacation, Laxa said.

The AVSG augmented its deployed force from 300 to 500 policemen spread out in all four terminals of the NAIA.