Folks, they were not sleeping on the issue.
More than a month after it went viral on social media, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has woken up to the fact that it needs to investigate allegations that taxi drivers in Metro Manila are drugging female passengers with the intention of robbing them.
According to testimonies posted on Facebook by supposed victims, some taxi drivers carry arround a sleep-inducing substance and either spray it on the aircon vent or on a rag.
A sample post: “I saw a one-liter bottle of mineral water near the brake and clutch area, and a white rag just a few inches from it…the MO…the driver takes the cap off the bottle, then pours just a few drops of whatever solution there is…and air it out through the air-con vent.” Read the rest of this testimony here.
Is it urban legend? Not for this woman who went on TV to recount her experience.
In a statement, LTFRB chair Winston Ginez said the agency will summon several operators to discuss how to address the matter, reports Dennis Carcamo in Philippine Star. He added that the board will be re-launching “Oplan Isnabero” in time for the holiday season, which will penalize drivers who refuse to board passengers.
