City to strictly require cabbies ID

THE city government of Davao eyes to make sure to require taxi drivers to use identification cards after recently reported events involving drivers spraying toxic chemicals that make passengers dizzy.

Davao City Assistant Administrator Tristan Dwight Domingo said in yesterday's City Peace and Order Council held at Grand Men Seng Hotel, "We plan to require them the use of IDs and also to attend seminars on road safety."

Public Safety and Security Command Center Chief Retired army general Benito de Leon during

the CPOC raised alarm over the three similar reported incidents reported before his office.

"There was one blotter and it was referred to me. That is the time I came to know that is such modus because in Manila it is quite widespread. Dito nagulat ako bakit meron sa Davao and it happened day time pa," he said.

He said the taxi plate was traced through CCTV cameras so the driver is identified.

De Leon said he recieved three reports about the modus.

"Recently meron ulit so I am alarmed all the more," De Leon said.

He referred to the published open letter from Ateneo de Davao faculty last February 18, 2017 reporting one student was victimized by spray modus by a taxi driver.

The student allegedly had a stuffy nose after as the inside of the cab had a "strong, repulsive smell" and the taxi driver observably wearing a surgical mask.

The student was allegedly further alarmed that there was no ID visible inside the cab and the cab was going so slow and the driver had made a detour along a deserted side street off Cabaguio.

The passenger felt dizzy but fought it off and forced the taxi to drop her off at a nearby warehouse and asked for help. KVC