PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte warned taxi drivers overcharging their passengers that they may be arrested and face estafa case.

In a recent interview with state-run PTV4, the President advised the public to report taxi drivers charging passengers with “exorbitant fares” to the authorities and not to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

“The usual advise is report to the LTFRB. No, go to the police instead. LTFRB has no man to enforce the rules and beside, it’s not the proper agency to handle it,” Duterte said.

“[I will not allow taxi drivers who are] short-changing the riding public. I tell you, those who have been collected more than the usual or exorbitant fares, do not go to the LTFRB, you go to the police,” he added.

Duterte said erring taxi drivers would be initially warned not to repeat asking for an unreasonable price.

If they do it again, the chief executive said they would be arrested and could be liable for estafa.

“All the police has to do is just flash an alarm. They have to monitor them. And I’m ordering the police to arrest them. For what? For estafa. It’s a crime, swindling,” he said.

Instead of overcharging the riding public, Duterte said taxi drivers may file a petition, which seeks to increase taxi rates, to a concerned government agency.

“There are rates prescribed by government. If the drivers are not happy with the amount, all they [need] to do is petition government for a higher fare,” Duterte said. (Sunnex)