‘Rude’ cab driver fined
A taxi driver who ordered his passengers, an old woman and her daughter, to disembark amid heavy rain Monday earned his lesson the hard way after authorities slapped him with a P14,000 fine.
The cab operator, Jose Arranguez of Dr. J Taxi, was also ordered to pay the same amount — P5,000 each for “discourtesy and refusal to convey” based on the temporary operator's permit, and P4,000 based on the inspection report summons (IRS).
The taxi driver, Norman Enojada, was fined for discourtesy and for refusing to transport the passengers to their residence in Barangay Basak Pardo, Cebu City.
Ahmed Cuizon, the regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7, said Enojada admitted his fault during yesterday's hearing.
"He said he assumed that there would be a flood in the passengers' destination, hence he decided not to proceed there," said Cuizon.
Cuizon said the taxi operators are held liable for their drivers' actions.
“We hold the operators responsible for their drivers' actions because they are supposed to exercise the diligence of a good father. If a driver commits a violation, then it means that the operator is remiss in properly educating, guiding and teaching the driver on the proper things to do," Cuizon explained on why the operator was included in the imposition of the penalty.
The complaint stemmed from the viral Facebook post of certain Mylbon Kyllie Rose Avila.
The FREEMAN took screenshots of the post before it was taken down from the social networking site.
Avila said she and other passengers, including 88-year-old Inday Venamera and her daughter, were queuing for a cab ride outside a mall on corner N. Bacalso Avenue and F. Llamas Street.
Since it was raining hard, Avila said, she opted to give way by allowing Venamera and her daughter to board the taxi first.
She said the victims already boarded the cab, but the vehicle did not leave.
To her surprise, Avila said, the passengers disembarked from the cab.
"Nahibung mi pwerteng dugaya nila nilarga, unya nikalit og open ang taxi then nitanaw ang tiguwang namo. Niduol ko sa taxi, sus mao diay kay gipanaog diay sa taxi driver ang tiguwang kay dili daw sya moadto sa Basak kay maguba daw iyang makina mosud daw ang tubig," Avila's post reads.
Avila said Venamera told her, “Paita oi, mobayad man unta mi. Di gyod siya (driver).”
Venamera, who was accompanied by her two granddaughters, went to LTFRB-7 to personally file the complaint.
The post had also reached the office of Cuizon and immediately acted on it. He summoned the driver, the operator and the passengers to a hearing, which was presided over by LTFRB-7 hearing officer, Atty. Edwin Antepuesto.
Cuizon warned the driver and the operator that a second offense will result to a penalty of P10,000 and suspension of license. The vehicle will also be impounded for 30 days.
For third and subsequent offenses, they will be fined with P15,000 and cancellation of franchise, Cuizon added.