Stories about chemical spray modus operandi involving cab drivers in the metro has been circulating the social media since 2013. In this tactic that aims to victimise passengers, the driver will spray a sleep-inducing chemical or place a hand towel soaked in an offensive substance in the taxi’s air conditioner. While the effect will immediately put the passenger to sleep, the driver protects himself by putting on a mask. This actually gives them the opportunity to easily rob their victims and get away with the crime.
Even with the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) stricter implementation of rules to eradicate crimes involving cab drivers, it looks like some taxi drivers are still doing modus operandi to take advantage of their passengers.
According to a report by The Daily Pedia, Nahida Sahtout claimed she and her sister was victimised by a taxi driver using the chemical spray strategy while they were travelling from Novaliches to Las Pinas on January 20. From what transpired in the incident, Sahtout also alleged two police officers from Mandaluyong Police Station as accomplices in the crime.
Check out her full story:
LTFRB Requires Cab Drivers To Sport ID
Last January 15, the LTFRB implemented the rule requiring taxi drivers in the metro to display their ID’s inside their cabs. The new policy aims to lessen the rising crimes inside cabs particularly in Metro Manila.
“On or before January 15, 2015, all taxi operators in the Central Office and NCR are directed to issue a back-to-back Identification Cards (IDs) to all their authorized drivers… to be hanged in the rear view mirror of the taxi units,” the LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2014-20 indicated.
According to LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez, taxi operators of cab drivers found without ID’s will be demanded to pay a sum P5,000.