The Buhangin Police Station on April 29, 2024, took into custody a driver for reportedly overcharging a passenger who took a cab from Buhangin to Calinan.
The taxi driver was temporarily detained at the Buhangin Police Station after the passenger reported the overcharging.
Buhangin Police Station Commander Police Major Antonio Y. Luy, in a media interview, said that at about 9 pm on April 29, the mobile patrol brought to the police station the taxi driver, the taxi unit, and the complainant.
The complainant said she hailed the taxi at about 8 pm on a road near the airport and alleged that the driver contracted her for a fare of Php 1,500 to Calinan.
Luy said that the complainant did not complain at first but asked instead to pick up someone from Cabantian. It was when the driver asked for additional fare. There was a disagreement between the taxi driver and the complainant that led them to ask for assistance from the mobile patrol.
“Wala na settle didto palang so nagsuggest ang patrollers nga dalhon sila diri sa buhatan. (It was not settled there, so our patrollers suggested to bring them here in the station),” Luy said, adding that as of Tuesday morning, they are preparing documents for the inquest proceedings against the driver for grave coercion.
“Naka-focus ta didto sa pugsanon or kaning ginatawag nato nga grave coercion kay according to our complainant, kung dili mutuman ang complainant naay mahitabo mao to nihatag og kabalaka sa iyaha mao to nidangop siya diri (We focus on the use of coercion or what we call grave coercion because according to the complainant, [the driver] warned her that something might happen if she will not agree with him, and this alarmed the passenger which was why she went to the police),” Luy said.
Luy said that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) already coordinated with the Buhangin Police and will also check the liability of the operator in terms of violation of the franchising rules. CIO
