By Leonardo Micua

 

WE are glad that LTFRB Region 1 swiftly acted on the case of overcharging by one jeepney driver plying the San Fabian to Dagupan route. We heard the driver was charging P50 per passenger and when the passengers protested, the driver angrily shouted at them as if it was his right to overcharge.

The situation inside the jeepney became so incensed that some of the passengers, mostly students rushing to their respective schools in Dagupan City, decided to alight and hail another ride. It was good that the exchange of hot words by the driver and some of his passengers was recorded on video by one passenger, which she instantly uploaded on social media.

In an instant, that post became viral, eliciting numerous comments and reactions vs the driver.

This did not escape the eyes of LTFRB. The driver as well as his operator are now in hot water because LTFRB, moto propio summoned the erring driver and operator to show cause why the Certificate of Public Conveyance (CCP) of their jeepney should not be suspended or revoked as a result of that incident.

In any such case, LTFRB always waits first for the complaint to be filed before acting on any violation by overcharging jeepney drivers. Thanks to the advent of advanced gadgets like the cellphone and the internet, drivers bullying their passengers can now reach the  government regulatory agencies fast without need for written complaints.

And more thanks to 4th District Board Member Marinol ‘Noy’ de Guzman, who invited LTFRB’s Atty. Annabel Marzan-Nullar to the Question Hour of the  Sangguniang Panlalawigan on October 3, to determine the authorized fare between San Fabian and Dagupan.

Informed that the distance between San Fabian and Dagupan is only 15 kilometers,  Atty. Nullar calculated that the authorized fare on that distance is only P31.80 for ordinary passengers, not P50; and for senior citizens, students and persons with disabilities, they should only pay P25.50.

This is a big eye opener to the public that has long been paying P50 for that route. The excuse given by the driver is that he had to overcharge because of the high cost of fuel, spare parts and commodities. But this is no fault of the commuters and won’t help the driver’s cause.

There is simply no reason to go beyond the law and in this matter, the regulations set by LTFRB.

Incidentally, there are too many other cases of overcharging by drivers plying other routes in Pangasinan to the disadvantage of commuters, especially to the ordinary wage earners. LTFRB should also look into the fares being charged by jeepneys plying other routes, i.e  the Manaoag-Dagupan line where jeepney drivers also reportedly charge P50 per passenger.

This overcharging of passengers and needless risks of losing their routes could have been easily avoided had jeepney drivers and operators policed their own ranks and advised their members to respect and not go beyond LTFRB’s regulations.

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We cannot prejudge the investigation being conducted by the police and the National Bureau of Investigation at this stage concerning the brazen slaying Monday night of broadcaster Percy Mabasa, also known to his fans as Percy Lapid, whether it is work-related or not.

Mabasa, who is the one behind the commentaries “Lapid Fire” heard on DWBL and shown on YouTube, was ambushed while he was entering a subdivision in Las Pinas City on board his black Toyota Innova.  

In his many years of journalism practice, Mabasa exposed so many controversial issues, many of these political, and swiped at many personalities in his brave, bold and incisive commentaries. 

We can only hope that with the evidence they have on hand, investigators can soon identify and arrest the perpetrators as well as the mastermind so that justice demanded by his family can be served. By the way, Percy is the elder brother of Roy Mabasa, former president of the National Press Club of the Philippines. Rest In Peace, Percy. 

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