MIAA nabs cabbie for overcharging international food vlogger

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila International Airport Authority on Tuesday arrested the taxi driver who overcharged an international food vlogger.

MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal said he ordered the MIAA personnel to search for the taxi operated by Eazy Transport First Inc. with plate number ACC 910. The authorities were able to apprehend the vehicle found in its garage while the driver surfaced on Tuesday.

The arrest came after food vlogger Mikey Chen on Sunday posted a video of the scamming incident in his YouTube channel with over 300,000 subscribers.

In his vlog, Chen shared that the driver charged him and his companions P2,300 or $50 going from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 to NAIA Terminal 4.

“We went to Terminal 3 for some reason by mistake and we’re going to Terminal 4 and they’re charging us P2,300 to go to one terminal. Going to any hotel in Metro Manila is only P2,300 so this guy’s ripping us off here definitely,” Chen said in the vlog.

“Our Uber from our hotel which took an hour was only P400 so don’t ever take this company if you’re in the airport,” the vlogger warned the viewers.

Chen showed a yellow laminated taxi rate card bearing the logos of the MIAA, NAIA and the Department of Tourism.

The rate card indicated that trips headed to NAIA Terminal 1 and 2 costs P2,500 and P2,400, respectively while trips to NAIA Terminal 3 and 4 as well as any Manila hotels costs P2,300.

It also indicated a note: “Follow airport policy. Disobeying airport policy is punishable by Philippines law.”

Chen cried robbery after being overcharged for a short trip and described it as the “most crazy scam.”

He explained that he knew it was going to be a scam when the cabbie asked him and his companions to get inside the taxi first. However, he thought he would just be asked to pay extra and not a big amount.

The vlogger immediately reported the taxi scamming incident to the airport authorities whom he said were “beyond courteous.”

In a radio interview, Monreal said the scamming incident occurred in January 2018 but he admitted that he only saw the video on Tuesday.

The MIAA general manager said the incident has already been reported to the Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board. He asked them to impound the vehicles.

Monreal added that the agency already banned the 35 units of Taxi Eazy from the airport.

Meanwhile, Monreal advised the public that the MIAA does not approve fixed rates for any trips.

“We did not approve any modus (fixed rate) like that. They should pay whatever is indicated in the taxi meter,” Monreal said in Filipino over an interview with dzMM.

Two weeks ago, the LTFRB also arrested a cabbie who overcharged vlogger Hayley Dasovich.

Frederick Cayanan, who scammed Dasovich, also used his own fare matrix.

The LTFRB said fare matrix is not authorized by the board.

Metered taxis are officially prohibited from charging fixed fares but it is a common practice in busy areas and during the holiday season.

Taxi operators implement a “boundary” system instead of giving drivers daily wages.

Taxi drivers are then asked to pay for the "boundary" — or the cost of renting the taxi unit from the operator — and the taxi's fuel first before they can start earning from fares.

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