LTFRB deploys Oplan Isnabero teams vs cab drivers

Agents of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) were deployed to arrest erring taxi drivers who refuse to take passengers during the Christmas shopping rush.

"Not only law enforcers were being tapped to implement our ‘Oplan Isnabero.’ Taxi operators also joined us in this campaign," Assistant Secretary Thompson Lantion told reporters during a meeting with taxi operators at the LTFRB.

Lantion had called for an urgent meeting with taxi operators after mounting complaints against choosy taxi drivers were received by action centers of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) regarding violations committed by some taxi drivers of the "Oplan Insabero."

He said Philippine National Police Traffic Management Group had provided 50 motorcycle-riding policemen to augment more than 20 traffic enforcers of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), nine agents from the LTFRB, and 20 enforcers of the DOTC’s action centers. Some 70 volunteers from non-government organizations and the media which will also assist in the crackdown against erring taxi drivers.

"These personnel have been broken down to teams and were already deployed in major shopping malls in Metro Manila from 4 p.m. to 12 midnight. Their task is to run after violators of Oplan Isnabero and other related violations," said Lantion.

Lantion had earlier inspected the taxi terminal of MGE Taxi in Biglang Awa, Caloocan City following complaints of violations committed by drivers of the company. MGE taxi is owned and operated by Teofilo Enriquez Jr.

"I took the opportunity to explain and warn them (taxi operators) about the policies and regulations of properly conveying passengers. I told them that the LTFRB and LTO will not hesitate to arrest them (drivers) if they continue to refuse to convey passengers," Lantion said.

The LTFRB also notified the Association of Taxi Operators in Metro Manila (ATOMM), Philippine National Taxi Operators Association (PNTOA), and the Taxi Operators and Drivers Association of Metro Manila, about the Oplan Isnabero crackdown.

Lantion said that aside from refusing to convey passengers, some taxi drivers also demand fixed rates or are contracting passengers, which is illegal.

"Aside from legal punishment and related penalties, the photographs of violators (taxi drivers) will also be posted in public places at their respective taxi terminals, LTFRB and LTO offices. Or even in daily broadsheets and tabloids newspapers," Lantion said.

He urged all taxi operators to carefully scrutinize the backgrounds of all applicants for drivers before employing them.

"We’ve heard a lot of stories about taxi drivers that are themselves robbers. I’m appealing to all taxi operators to be (more discriminate)."

Bong Suntay, legal counsel of PNTOA, welcomed the appeal of the LTFRB chief.

Meanwhile, at least 11 transport groups have petitioned the Court of Appeals to strip local government units of the power to enforce traffic rules.

In their 38-page petition, the 11 groups led by Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (Fejodap) urged the appellate court to declare the act of confiscating driver’s license as unconstitutional as they constitute an unlawful deprivation of property.

The transport groups said there are 15 ordinances regarding traffic rules being implemented by different local government units in Metro Manila.

The policy of issuing local traffic ordinances was apparently started by Makati City and Taguig in 2003. Thirteen other cities and municipalities have passed similar ordinances since 2003.

Named respondents in the petition for injunction and mandamus were the Metro Manila Development Authority, the LTO and the city governments of Manila, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Caloocan, San Juan, Navotas, Las Piñas, Taguig, Pasay, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasig, and Pateros.