Taxi driver molests passenger

CEBU, Philippines - A 17-year-old college student was almost raped by a taxi driver when the driver took her to a secluded area in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City rather than taking her to her destination.

The victim allegedly became unconscious a few minutes after the driver shook an air freshener bottle near the taxi’s aircon vent.

But she successfully escaped when she woke up later and fought back.

The victim claimed that at about 2:00 in the afternoon, she flagged down the taxi in sitio Panagdait, barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City and asked the driver to take her to the Iglesia ni Cristo Church along Mango Ave.

The driver told her they will take the route passing barangay Subangdaku to avoid the traffic in Ayala where there was a vehicular accident.

While traveling, the victim asked the driver why it was hot, prompting him to adjust the vehicle’s airconditioner while shaking an air freshener.

The victim then fell unconscious and did not remember anything after that, except when she woke up to feel somebody taking off the belt of her pants.

 Senior Police Officer Dindo Montesclaros of the Subangdaku Police Station said the victim was able to kick the driver and ran away.

“Wa siya kahibaw kung naigo basta iyang nakit-an nga nagpanghikap sa nawong,” Montesclaros said.

At about 6:30 in the evening, the victim was accompanied by her mother to the police station to report the incident.

Ahmed Cuizon, the director of the Land and Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board, encouraged all taxi passengers to get the plate number all the time, or the body number of the taxi.

This way, Cuizon said, they can immediately trace the driver if there are complaints or when passengers’ belongings are left behind.

He also called on operators to do a background check before hiring a driver, for the safety of the passengers.

“Drivers should not have questionable backgrounds or having derogatory records and passengers should get their receipts kay it includes information of the taxi,” Cuizon said.

For other complaints, Cuizon told commuters to call the hotline number of the LTFRB office 231-6221. —(FREEMAN)