MIAA GM says driver of Eazy Taxi has been apprehended
Food vlogger Mikey Chen went to the Philippines to feast on local dishes.
He did enjoy his experience in the country, except when he was scammed by a local taxi driver.
In a vlog posted in his YouTube channel on March 25, Chen talked about how he and his companions were asked to pay P2,300 to go from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 to the nearby Terminal 4.
"I knew this was going to happen. 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," he said.
"[According to taxi driver] Going to any hotel in Metro Manila is only P2,300, so this guy is ripping us off here," Chen added.
Chen also said their taxi fare from their hotel to the airport was only P400.
"So don't ever take this company if you're in the airport. This is like, crazy. This is robbery right here," he said as he showed the fake rate card inside the taxi.
The rate card showed prices ranging from P2,300 to P2,500, depending on which terminal the passenger came from.
The rate card also bore the logos of the Department of Tourism, NAIA, and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).
According to Chen, he knew it was a scam as soon as the driver told them to ride the cab first before telling them how much they'll pay.
"I knew it was going to be a scam as soon as I asked them how much it was going to cost us from Terminal 3 to Terminal 4, and he said, get in the car first, I knew it was going to be a scam," he said.
"That's $50 to drive from one terminal to the next when our Uber, that took an hour to get to the airport, cost only 10 bucks," Chen added.
Chen said they reported the taxi driver to the police, who informed them they should have paid only P200.
"We're actually reporting the cab driver to the police right now, because they said it only should have been P200," he said.
He warned his viewers not to fall for the same scam, and even lauded the police officers, who he said were "beyond courteous."
"Also, I just want to say, the officers were beyond courteous. That was a not so great situation but they were so nice and friendly, it's pretty awesome," Chen said.
This incident was reported just a few weeks after another vlogger complained about a similar incident involving a taxi driver, who asked for a fixed rate instead of using the taxi meter.
IMPOUNDED AND BANNED
Meanwhile, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal said they have already arrested the taxi driver who scammed Chen.
"Kaninang umaga ho, pinagalaw ko na 'yung mga tauhan natin at suwerte naman ho, nahuli ho kaagad 'yung taxi, nakita sa garahe, at 'yung driver ho, ngayong gabi, lumutang na," he told DZMM on Tuesday.
Monreal added the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has been informed about the incident.
"Tinawagan ko na rin po ang LTFRB at para ho ma-impound ang sasakyan," he said.
According to Monreal, he only saw the video on Tuesday, but the actual incident occurred sometime in January 2018.
He also said they have banned all 35 Easy Taxi units from the airport.
Monreal advised passengers that the MIAA does not approve or recommend any fixed rate for taxis.
"Meron silang ginagawang parang sariling taripa na ipinapakita sa pasahero, na 'yun daw ang approved ng paliparan. Wala ho kaming ina-approve na ganung modus at dapat ho bayaran lang kung ano ang nasa metro," he explained.