Skip to content

Modus Operandi in Metro Manila Taxi Cabs

Updated August 6, 2013- Updated for reporting and getting a cab in Metro Manila

To report crime via social media: Tweet @NCRPOReact or Cellphone number 0999-901-8181 or 0915-888-8181

Send your complaints to LTFRB hotline 0921-4487777 /02- 426-2515.

Report abusive cab drivers via web or an app www.taxikick.com or

TO get a cab: Check @grabtaxiPH . Here is their website: http://grabtaxi.com/

Much as I want to share the good news, I believe you need to read this. My daughter was nearly victimized by a modus operandi yesterday night but she wasn’t because the scene sounded so familiar. As the surreal incident unfolded, she slowly planned her escape. I used to think this stuff happens only in forwarded emails where I can’t verify the truth of the content. Turns out one of these forwarded notes or emails have some truth.

taxi-cabs
I learned to let go of my two adult daughters as early as college but totally letting go once they graduated. My girls got to use the public transportation system only in college. By that time, I learned to let go of worry. I am aware of the dangers and risks in our transport system but I didn’t want them to live in a perpetual cloak of fear. During their pre-college years, it was either me or the driver that brought them to school or any destination in Manila. It was easier to control their activities when they were younger since they were a bit obedient in those days with limited social life to boot.

My only request from my girls are SMS updates and be safe and responsible. Not a small feat to ask.

I was expecting my daughter to be at the MRT station in Megamall at 8:30 PM but it was taking her some time. I dragged my husband to drive for me since I was so tired. She sent me a text message, that indicated the plate number of the cab. It is normal practice for my girls to take down the plate number. I pray to high heavens for a blanket of protection to my girls as they commute or drive.

Before I could reply, she called me:”Mom, I nearly got victimized from a modus operandi but nothing was taken from me.

I am here at the Makati Public Safety Authority (MAPSA) outpost near Cash and Carry. Please pick me up here”.

Glad that she was safe, I am thankful that she left the taxicab during a traffic stop.

When we picked her up at the nearby KFC restaurant, the first thing she told us “I read this facebook note about a modus operandi and felt it was going to happen to me..”


Here is that facebook note:

From:mary ruth causing [mailto:causingmaryruth@ …]
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 10:59 PM
To: mary ruth causing
Subject: Warning of a Modus Operandi

Dear friends,

I’d like to share a story of what happened to me last Monday, October 6, which appears to be a modus operandi done by people with criminal intentions. My purpose for sharing this with you is to forewarn you of such incidents so that you may keep yourselves safe.

At about a quarter to 7 in the evening, last Monday, I left the office and walked out of Tektite building towards San Miguel Avenue , Ortigas, to ride a cab. It was just right after a brief drizzle, so the roads were almost empty of cars and people, although it was still a bit early. I’m accustomed to going home by myself if I feel like it, and riding cabs without any problems for the longest time.

I was walking along Exchange Road in front of our building, and have already crossed Pearl Drive , when I saw a cab slowly cruising along Exchange Road from San Miguel Avenue . It was an old, a bit dilapidated, white (seemingly) Toyota Corolla, with a yellow-lighted “taxi” on the roof, with black scrawl of the taxi’s “name” on the side (I didn’t notice the name written there). It didn’t have any passengers on board and I thought it a bit odd that a passenger-less cab would be coming from San Miguel Avenue towards Tektite at a time when taxis are supposedly full. I was more accustomed to seeing taxis with no passengers coming from Pearl Drive towards Tektite on its way out back towards EDSA or in the opposite direction of C-5. But it didn’t quite get to me. I was tired and needed to go home to rest. I just thought that the driver was trying to get passengers.

I flagged down the slow moving taxi and got in. I said I was going towards EDSA, so the cab went its usual familiar route of rounding the one-way Exchange Road , out to San Miguel Avenue , left to Megamall, and right towards EDSA. I normally would text Tony of the plate number of the taxi, but at that time, I didn’t. I normally would check the locks of the car doors, but this time, I only locked the ones on the front and back passenger seats (right side, because I saw that the left side door was locked). Everything was normal, except that
it was still going its slow pace. The driver was a slim-built, middle-aged man, with balding head (some hairs on the side), wore a baseball cap and a worn-out but decent white polo jacket.

Near the foot of the flyover towards Ortigas Avenue and EDSA, he requested me in a kindly manner to please move to the other end of the passenger seat because “ma-fla-flat na po yung gulong ko. Spare lang yan e.” where I was sitting. I was sitting at the right side of the passenger seat at the back, and promptly moved to the left side. I was even able to converse with him, saying “a ganun ba? Hindi ba delikado yun na tumatakbo tayo sa EDSA na pa-flat na gulong n’yo?” “Hindi po, malapit lang naman po kayo, di ba? Kaya pa po yun,” he smilingly said. And, all along, we were slowly moving across the flyover at EDSA. After the flyover, he slowly veered towards the inner side of the yellow lane, but I thought it was because “inaalalayan niya yung sasakyan.”

When the taxi crossed the gate of Corinthian Gardens , it further slowed down, and I saw from afar two men seemingly waiting for a bus. When the taxi neared the two men, they gestured towards the taxi, and it suddenly dawned on me that this could be a hold-up. I initially tried getting the lock of the door to my side open, and was stricken by horror that it didn’t budge. It seemed to be jammed (or perhaps child-locked, on hindsight). And the horror of horrors happened. The taxi stopped by the two men, and the driver announced, “‘wag ka gagawa ng iskandalo, hold-up ‘to,” and promptly opened the locked doors on the right side doors of the front and back passenger seats. Everything went fast.

The two men briskly went in, one at the front passenger seat, the other beside me on my right. I thought in horror “this can’t be happening to me!” All I can scream was “ay! ay! Diyos ko! Diyos ko!” The driver said to the two men, “wag n’yong sasaktan ‘yan, mabait si ma’am.” And, to me, “pera lang ang kailangan namin. Hindi ka masasaktan kung susundin mo kami.” One of the two men was also middle-aged, slim-built, with balding hair. The other was younger, about in his mid- to late-twenties, gaunt-looking, with high cheek bones, with a thick head of hair. He struck me as someone who was taking drugs.

The next two hours were a gruelling ordeal. They rummaged through my bag and got my money, ATM and credit cards, cellphones, and my jewelry, including my wedding ring. They gave back my bag and wallet, though, but without the money and the cards. We spent the hours going around EDSA from Kamuning to Quezon Avenue , stopping at banks where one of the men went to the ATM machines to try and get cash from my savings ATM and credit cards. They didn’t let me out of the taxi to do the transactions. While one man did the transactions at the ATMs, the taxi kept going round and round the Kamuning and Quezon Avenue u-turns. They took away my glasses so that I can’t see where we’re going. But I was familiar with the places we passed – Timog Avenue , Agham Road , near the Napocor area, and back again to EDSA to go to the ATMs for transactions. They pressed me for the PIN of the credit cards, but I didn’t memorize them, but gave them some numbers that I’m not even sure of.

Towards the end, they were pissed off because they couldn’t get through the credit cards, and I was afraid that they’d do me in. But, in the end, they let me go, the driver warning me sternly, “wag kang lilingon sa kaliwa o kanan. Dire-direcho lang, kung hindi, babarilin talaga kita.” They gave a 100 peso bill “pamasahe para makauwi.” They dropped me off at Agham Road , near the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (formerly Lungsod ng Kabataan) at about 9:30 p.m. There was no one in sight, another light drizzle has already passed.
One of the men accompanied me out of the taxi, pushed me forward, and ran back to the taxi. That’s when I ran and ran towards Quezon Avenue until I boarded a jeepney at a stop light. The kindly jeepney driver motioned me to a mobile police patrol when we passed by one, and I finally came to the police precinct at Kamuning EDSA to tell my tale. I didn’t even get to see the taxi’s plate number.

They informed me there that that has been a modus operandi of these criminal elements, plying the route of Quezon Avenue , Timog, Agham, even Kamuning areas. They also would give some money for “pamasahe.” They would say it’s for a sick wife, etc.

I have talked to some employees of a company in the Ortigas area who fell victim to the same modus operandi. Same taxi, same description of the driver, same alibi about a flat tire, requesting the passenger to move to the left side of the passenger seat, where the door’s lock is jammed. Same giving of the 100 peso bill at the end of the hold-up. Last December, an employee rode the dubious taxi at SM Megamall at about 9 p.m. and the hold-up was announced when some men boarded the taxi at Star Mall. The person was held-up until 11 p.m. The other, with the person’s 6-year old child, boarded the taxi at the Robinson’s Galleria and was also held-up by men who went inside the taxi. I myself, boarded the taxi near where I work, imagine that. And, the security guards were just a few meters away.

Please be forewarned of this modus operandi. We’re facing harder times, and December is nearing. Take extra care, friends. As for me, I believe it was the prayers that helped me. All throughout the ordeal, my Savior was there, guiding me in what to say or do so as not to aggravate the situation until freedom came. They didn’t touch or harm me. Praise God!

God bless us,
Ruth

There are some similarities to the above facebook note except that she was able to escape. Some notes she told me:

1. The taxi cab was old . The driver was also older older than us.

2. The driver kept telling sordid details about rape victims. He found delight in conveying rape stories.

3. He told her to move to the right side because he wanted to check if a piece of paper was below her seat. He told her to bend and search for that “imaginary paper” below the seat. She refused to move and left the cab during traffic stop.

There is more but it is sick and perverted. You know the drift?

It was at this point that she chose to leave the cab and reported the incident to the MAPSA.

There is one good thing that happened in this incident. She met Field Inspector Renato Escotido who assisted her with the police report. Apparently this modus operandi indeed occurs.

It pays to read some of this forwarded notes or email about modus operandi. Who knows it could be true?

You are reading it from me, a mom that you know.

My daughter’s advice:

1. If it feels funny, it is probably is. Trust your instincts.

2. Huwag ka na mahiya . Don’t look back to pay the cab. Just leave .

3. Look for police or traffic outpost to report incident.

4. Taxi drivers have no right to interrogate you about your life. Stick to politics or current events.

(Will update soon as we get back from the Land Transportation Franchising & Regulatory Board LTFRB)


Safety Tips when taking a Taxi

Report abusive taxi drivers to the LTFRB hotline 0921-4487777 /02- 426-2515. or the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Hotline 7890. or at www.taxikick.com

1. Send an SMS to a friend/family member, noting the taxi’s plate number, as soon as you get in.

2. Always sit in the back and keep your belongings right beside you. Also, make sure all doors are locked.

3. Keep to general conversation with the driver. Never disclose personal information.

4. Watch out for sleep-deprived drivers. If you feel uncomfortable, ask the driver to stop in a busy familiar area and immediately get out of the taxi.

5. Make it a point to familiarize yourself with your destination by looking at a map or asking directions from someone familiar with the place. Advise the taxi driver in advance not to take shortcuts and stick to major roads, especially at night. If the driver insists on taking his own route, get out at the earliest opportunity.

6. Never share a taxi with strangers.

7. (suggested by an FB friend) what I sometimes do pala… i pretend to call someone and give the taxi plates… Tipong, “mahal, nakasakay nako taxi, so and so. Yes, sana hindi traffic no. Ha? ok sige text ko din sayo ng llate number. So siguro expect me in 10 minutes? Ok bye.”

I text the plates kasi… But hindi naman nila alam yun. Basta pag iffy feeling ako, i pretend call, para alam ng driver na I am expected somewhere.

81 thoughts on “Modus Operandi in Metro Manila Taxi Cabs”

  1. Hi Noemi, I;m glad that Lauren was able to get out of that freaking situation…I have also experienced somewhat same predicament but in broad daylight last year. Sadly to say, until now, LTFRB had no updates for me whatsoever and I had given up thinking that our government agencies can really do anything about it.I’m thinking nga na “baka nabayaran na”. Sad, but it’s true. More than a year na eh…anyhoots, here’s the link to my post…

    http://beautylilsecrets.blogspot.com/2009/04/beware-of-white-cab-with-plate-typ-721.html

  2. Hi Noemi, I;m glad that Lauren was able to get out of that freaking situation…I have also experienced somewhat same predicament but in broad daylight last year. Sadly to say, until now, LTFRB had no updates for me whatsoever and I had given up thinking that our government agencies can really do anything about it.I’m thinking nga na “baka nabayaran na”. Sad, but it’s true. More than a year na eh…anyhoots, here’s the link to my post…

    http://beautylilsecrets.blogspot.com/2009/04/beware-of-white-cab-with-plate-typ-721.html
    .-= Eenah´s last blog ..Why I deserve an Android phone =-.

  3. Ms. Noemi, I have been told that holdups have become frequent in FX taxis plying the Quiapo/SM Megamall-Pasig route. Nagpahatid pa daw ang holduppers sa isang barangay in Fairview. The police were able to find out a whole barangay of holduppers there. Scary.

    Taxi/FX drivers often advice-if you feel uncomfortable about someone, either driver or co-passenger, get out of the vehicle. They often look alike–gaunt-looking carrying empty knapsacks.

  4. There are so many of these going on! I’m glad your daughter is safe. Ever since blogs came out about cabs and their modus operandi, I stop riding a cab at night. It was either spend the night or ask someone to fetch me. There are several others besides this, several even worse than this.Stay safe everyone! ALWAYS BE ALERT! Don’t feel to calm in a cab.
    .-= Cheryl Golangco´s last blog ..Lost DSLR Reunited with Owner =-.

  5. Sharing the contact number of Trends cab; useful for South residents – 8214685. They are based in Sunvalley, Paranaque. I take this cab almost every week. The drivers are courteous. 🙂

  6. Hi Noemi,
    I’m glad your daughter is ok. She’s very smart, like her mom. I am a regular taxi rider because I don’t own a vehicle. My husband can’t drive. My house is far (Lagro, after Fairview pa) so I’m glad to be reminded to be aware and vigilant when riding a cab. Thanks and best regards.

  7. hey Ms. Noemi!

    Thank you for sharing this, and thank God your daughter had the presence of mind and instinct to do what she did.

    I’ve had friends as well who’ve been victimized by Taxis as well, and yes I’ve heard of this one and read the above quoted note. And to think the girl in the note works close to where I used to work (where a lot of my female officemates also ride cabs) and close to where my sister works as well.

    Will repost this and share around as well.

    ^_^

  8. Good thing that your daughter have street smarts and presence of mind.

    I used to believe that taking taxi cabs are safer than taking buses and jeeps – less chances of being held up, or be pickpocketed at the very least. But with these incidents happening, one needs to be really alert and smart when on the road, no matter what mode of transport you’re taking.

    Lastly, thanks for sharing the list of dependable taxi companies – really helpful.
    .-= Fitz´s last blog ..Something To Remember In Your “Pursuit of Happyness” =-.

  9. Also you can add this to your tips ms. Noemi, you can use the keyword LTO VEHICLE and send to 2600. An example would be the Plate Number that you posted.

    PVH 814 would be LTO VEHICLE PVH814

    which in my case I checked when I read this post returned me the details of the Taxi.

    This is what I have been doing ever since. Okay lang yung 2.50 pesos na text basta alam mo yung details nung vehicle na sinakyan ng loved ones.
    .-= James Diaz´s last blog ..Nokia C3-01 Touch And Type Announced! =-.

  10. Also you can add this to your tips ms. Noemi, you can use the LTO VEHICLE and send to 2600. An example would be the Plate Number that you posted.

    PVH 814 would be LTO VEHICLE PVH814

    which in my case I checked when I read this post returned me the details of the Taxi.

    This is what I have been doing ever since. Okay lang yung 2.50 pesos na text basta alam mo yung details nung vehicle na sinakyan ng loved ones.
    .-= James Diaz´s last blog ..Nokia C3-01 Touch And Type Announced! =-.

  11. I am glad that your daughter is safe. I have been taking cabs in Manila for years, and there were times that I would go down even if I haven’t reached my destination yet just because I felt that something wasn’t right. I would much rather just pay extra on my fare, because although our intuition or gut feel isn’t 100% right all the time, there is just no room for regrets when it comes to our own safety.

    Thanks for sharing this info, Mommy.
    .-= Sam´s last blog ..Sanjo turns 13 months =-.

  12. I always ride a cab to and from the office… thanks for sharing this info… I already reported quite a few abusive taxi drivers to LTFRB hotline and I am glad they exert effort in doing some action… 🙂

  13. This happened to me too, but instead, the cab driver was talking about “sex” all the time from where I got picked up to the where he dropped me off. What I did was try exchanging conversations with him pretending that I didn’t catch what he was trying to do, and concentrated on the road he’s driving. Whenever he tried to take a different road from the usual one I’m taking, I always tell him things like, “Manong, dito sa kanan. Mas malapit kung kakanan tayo. Mas hindi traffic.” and other excuses. Though there was once where I was nearly brought to some dark narrow street, I was already pretending to me mad and shouting at the driver and said, “Manong, hindi diyan ang daan. Ituturo ko, bumalik ka.”

    The important part there is that you watch carefully the driver’s movements and where he’s driving you to. And if you’re going somewhere late night to a place you don’t know, make sure you’re with someone, and preferably a male so there would be someone who could defend you, in case things happen.
    .-= Euri´s last blog ..Dark Clouds =-.

  14. we really should make noise about these situations. we can’t rely on our law enforcers to do anything about these things unless it has become an issue big enough that it could be a possible cause for embarrassment for their top brass.

    personally, i never ride taxis. why should i when i know i will be held up, not literally of course. the fact alone that most of these taxis have rigged meters have made me decide to never ever get into one.

    but, of course, the more serious reason for people to think twice about riding taxis is safety.

    good to hear your daughter is safe.

  15. Thanks for this info.. It will help our kababayan to taking extra care for themselves. Na experience ko na din naloko sa dito sa metro manila…. In an illegal recruiting company who want us to pay for 3000 Php. for a marubishi water purifier. They require us to buy the water purifier to pass the exam. Fortunately, I was able to escaped by telling them to come back for the money but when I go home I search for more info about the company (GREEN ARCHIPELAGO INTERPRISE ) and I found out that it is a scam. And now i found this link http://pasay.olx.com.ph/urgent-hiring-office-staffs-iid-9897537 nag re-recruit na naman po sila nagbago sila ng location pasay na daw sila pero dati sa Rm. 601, 6th flr 636 Trinity Bldg., TM Kalaw St., Ermita, Mla..
    .-= Judy´s last blog ..What You Should Know About Google Vs Facebook =-.

  16. Msg to Filipina Blogger,

    Maraming salamat po for sharing this one, it’s very helpfull for every person specially in manila po.

    May share din po ako. As, for the public places as much at possible avoid using wrist watch for this is the start of the conversation. Eh, ano po kung suplado/suplado tayo.

    It’s the right thing for me i guess. gaya nga po ng advice ng daughter nyo. trust your instinct [^^,]

    Have a Blessed and Wealthfull day

    Lenrev Elad Zurc
    TEAM P-NOY

  17. The description of them:

    “One of the two men was also middle-aged, slim-built, with balding hair. The other was younger, about in his mid- to late-twenties, gaunt-looking, with high cheek bones, with a thick head of hair. He struck me as someone who was taking drugs.”

    reminded me of my first experienced (hopefully my last) hold-up last Sept 9,2008. I think they were the same men. It happened inside a collorum fx parked in front of FEU to get passengers going to SM North/ Proj 6. Since it was raining hard, kahit collorum ‘yun, okay lang.. I just want to get home early because I was really exhausted that day.

    You’re description is exactly the same as them, and they told us that they just needed money. No one will get hurt if we follow them. Since we’re caught in a traffic jam, I’ve been in that fx from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm. We were just roaming around the streets near SM Fairview til they dropped off somewhere. And they gave us 100 each for our transportation. I really have no idea if the fx driver was with them kasi binigyan rin nila ng pera pang gas. Ihatid daw ung mga passengers sa SM North and they keep on saying that they don’t know the driver.

    “Wag kang lilingon sa kaliwa o kanan. Dire-direcho lang, kung hindi, babarilin talaga kita.” -exactly the same words they uttered as they were about to leave.

    Glad that your daughter is safe. God is really really good. To all people who ride taxi cabs almost everyday, if you encountered like this one, just stay clam and pray. That’s the best that you can do at that moment. 🙂

  18. ako talaga I don’t ride cabs when its wee hours of the night, or kahit hindi mashado late pero I feel the cab driver would be a rude one I’d rather commute bus or jeep doesn’t matter as long as I’m with a group of people.

    I’m glad lauren was safe. katakot talaga.

  19. I’m glad your daughter escaped unharmed and had presence of mind during the incident. My cousin was seriously injured in a taxi modus operandi earlier this year, also involving the driver asking her to pick up something from the floor in the beginning, but it gets nastier towards the end…

    her account is posted in one of her friend’s blogs:
    http://yourordinaryday.blogspot.com/2010/01/story-of-kristine-singsons-tragic.html
    .-= blooey´s last blog ..Oldies but Goodies Picture Book Roundup =-.

  20. Wow, subra talagang nakakatakot sa manila. Kung meron akong di namiss dyan sa Pilipinas, iyang mga mokong na taxi drivers na hindi kati-katiwala. Buti na lang at safe yung dalaga mo. Anyway, I’m glad na nahanap ko blog mo. I’m trying to find Filipino bloggers to connect with and get updates about the blogging community sa atin. Mukhang in full-force ang blogging dyan at gusto kong ma-involve sa organization or conferences na para sa mga bloggers. I hope you get in touch with me. Congrats nga pala sa eBook mo. Great achievement! Ingatz!

  21. my eldest son passed on this info to me.

    the story of ruth is really frustrating. coming from a nearly three months assignment in the socialist republic of vietnam (in the north of vietnam), i can say our country’s cab service industry is far from the taxi network operation comparing what i have experienced in vietnam and that of the plight of ruth.

    i as a foreigner there can even flag a taxi and tell the driver where to go without fear of being victimized then go back to my dormitory safe and sound and yet the driver doesn’t know how to speak or understand the english language. they only know how to speak vietnamese. how i managed to do it?

    here’s my story:

    as an exchange faculty, we lived in a dormitory provided by our collaborator university at thai nguyen city. it’s a little bit secluded and quiet in our place. whenever we wanted to shop or go to the market, anyone of us can go alone and take a taxi.

    a taxi operator shall be called by the university staff (they have the phone numbers of taxi operators in the city), give the exact location of the passenger to board it and where the passenger will go. in less than five minutes a taxi will come and with little effort to gesture where to go (saying the name of the place, where the taxi driver utter in return, which means he has the understanding), presto! you are brought to your destination and pay the fee.

    returning to the dormitory is just as easy. again you call on the university staff, who in return will call a taxi operator and tell where the passenger will be picked up to transport to the destination. the driver even help you unload the goodies you brought from the store or market without pleading to extend his help. please take note, we’re completely stranger to one another. if a foreigner can be safely brought back and forth to his/her destination, what more to a national, the same experience can be comfortable for them.

    can we do that here? i think i need to hear real stories so we can evaluate how comparable our taxi network is to vietnam. may i add that since we were assigned to go to other provinces in vietnam, which means the place is entirely unfamiliar to us, we still managed to visit other places with the same procedure.

  22. DAMN. And to think sometimes I would fall asleep in Taxis over there.

    But you guys give the term ‘modus operandi’ a bad name. If you look it up in the dictionary, it just means ‘a signature way of doing things’.

    I think the term “taxi scams” comes to mind, but yeah… these days more intense terms like “modus operandi” are more well… modus operandi.

  23. Oh, my gush! magpapasko na kase. hays. ako din lagi ko chinichika ung driver para malaman ko kung meron man syang binabalak. at pag uncomfortable na ko, bababa na talaga ako.

    parang dati may nareport din about Dollar taxi. hmm not sure.

    One of my favorites din is Reno taxi.

  24. thank God your daughter was alert and was able to help herself in such situations.

    my mom and i almost have the same situation before but the thing is we had the same experience in the city of Manila and this is how it went through:

    we just came from the hospital to pick up my grandfather, it was still mid-afternoon but my mom told me that we should just take a taxi cab to avoid making my grandfather tired. after minutes of waiting, i spotted a cab with no passengers aboard. at first he didn’t want to accommodate us because we were living at the far side of the metro. we wanted to get home fast, so my mom decided to just add a small sum of money to what was supposed to be the original fare. during the course of our ride with him, he started telling stories about his life he even tell stories about the old buildings that we passed through, saying that they were haunted and all. in the middle of his story telling, he blurted out that one of the wheels seems to be flat. he didn’t make us move or what but started showing him how aggravated i am already and told him to continue driving and that my grandfather just got out from the hospital and already needs to rest at home. he insisted at first but seeing my facial expression and reaction, he stopped and continued to drive. when we got to our place we just gave him an additional 20 pesos and got out of his taxi without saying a word.

    we almost fell to his trap, but what i did is show some courage and got the most of him first. i’m not saying that everyone should show courage during times like these. sometimes, showing aggression to these kinds of people would just make things worst.

  25. oh no! this is really scary. oh my, thank you for sharing this story with us. My son and I sometimes use to ride a cab when our car is not available. i’m most concern with the safety of my son above all else. Thanks so much. At least we now know their style. GodBless you!

  26. I often hail a cab because it’s more convenient for me and I’ve been fortunate enough not to have had any bad experiences. Thank you for sharing your story though and I’m glad your daughter is okay. From now on, I think I’ll think twice about taking a taxi and will make sure to take note of the vehicle’s name and plate number before anything else. I wish something concrete could be done about such situations!

  27. I go home at 1am and I always choose R&E, EMP or MGE taxis. They don’t choose passengers and their meters are not tampered. Their plate numbers are also posted at the back of the front seats.

  28. Before boarding the taxi, call somebody at home and provide the taxi number and the driver that includes the physical description. Even if your talking to your kid brother or nobody, act like you are talking to your kuya/daddy which is in the military, something like kuya or dad, ganito ang hitsura ng driver at ng taxi, should i be delayed ask your men to check… beleive me it works if you are smarter than the driver, of course lock all doors. it’s a must, and don’t talk to the driver a lot, only when it’s needed. Be alert and do not fall asleep.

    Take care guys, and to hell with them.

  29. I will not consider Dollar Taxi a reliable. I had a bad experience when I rode one of their taxis. I normally ride the taxi from Katipunan to Kamias area so I am familiar with the average amount that I should be paying. One night, I rode a Dollar Taxi then I noticed that the meter was extremely fast so I asked the driver about it. As soon as I asked, he became angry and told me that if I wanted to complain, I should complain at there garage. So instead of taking me to Kamias, he tool me to their garage at Sikatuna area. When I got there, about 8 drivers surrounded me and kept on forcing me to pay the amount that was on the meter. I just remained calm and did not try to answer them back. To make a long story short, I managed to call my friend who had contacts with PNP while we were on the way to their garage. My friend managed to bring 2 police men with him and arrived at the scene before anything worse could happen to me. So I believe that Dollar Taxi should be avoided and should be removed from the list above.

  30. Just experienced it this morning. Some 20 seconds after I boarded the cab, cab driver asked me to move behind him because of a soft tire. I just told him I wanted to get off and I told him that is a modus operandi of holduppers to ask the rear-seated passenger to move to the seat behind the driver. After I got off and took the plate number the driver got off and protested and showed that the tires were really soft. I looked at the tire and it should still be able to carry a normal load of 3 passenger.

    I took another cab and relayed my experience to the driver. He said there are reputable taxis that are being cloned. They can just paint these on their doors. They think of everything.

  31. Wlang kwenta tong hotline nato…

    Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Hotline 7890.

    Gusto lang bigyan ng notice driver.eh kung d sumagot sorry nalang..

    walang ngipin ang batas dito.

  32. When I was still a call center agent, I used to ride taxis a lot especially when I would be late for work. In Baclaran, I usually ride those taxis that are waiting in line for passengers, manned by barkers. I feel safer with the idea that most of the taxi drivers waiting there know each other since they are regulars in the area. When not coming from Baclaran, I would choose, like Jen, R&E, EMP or MGE taxis who are I think sister companies.Sometimes Basic. Upon getting in, I would text to my family or close friends the taxi number and I make a big show out of this so the taxi driver will know that I texted someone. Most taxi drivers know if you are a “rider” or not. Hence, they know if they could get away with asking too much fee or not. Some drivers would just tell me to pay what I normally pay when I see that their meter is higher than normal. I talk with drivers but just to make sure that they are awake, but I don’t give any personal information. I watch out for drivers who are too talkative (baka inaaliw ka lang) and drivers who are too quiet (di mo alam iniisip) and I usually tell them where to go even if it irritates the hell out of them. The important thing is to trust your instinct. It takes a lot of effort to be safe and it pays to be vigilant all the time.
    .-= mai´s last blog ..K-Zone- Learning How to Send and Email- and Cartoon Network =-.

  33. Pingback: Taxi Modus Operandi « Sandiego Street

  34. sobra naman to! glad u’re daughter is safe and she had a presence of mind.. my husband gave me the link to this site.. my office is in tektite too and i usually use taxi, especially after my freak car accident last year.. i seldom drive nowadays, i just drive when i’m in south area.. having a ‘suki’ taxi from a trusted taxi company is really helpful to avoid these situations even if it’s more expensive.. i live in south area and i usually use TAI taxi, i forgot their hotline number as i have my own suki driver na.. thank you for posting this.. lalo na ngayon.. malapit na ang pasko.. ang iniisip ng mga ganyang klaseng tao, bonus na ng mga empleyado, so bonus na rin sila.. nde man lang nila naiisip na isang taon pinaghihirapan yun ng ibang tao at nilalaan sa kung ano man tapos nanakawin lang syo.. it is depressing to think, that this operandi is already common.. but our enforcers are still not doing anything to avoid it.. instead of telling people to be extra careful especially during christmas season, they should have already done something to avoid this and not just tell people to be extra careful.. ‘coz even if we really are careful.. still, we can’t do anything if a gun is pointed to you.. be safe everyone!!!

  35. Oh this is really scary! Me and my boyfriend are going to Manila next week and both of us are not familiar of Manila. It’s actually our first time to go to Manila. I was searching about Manila’s cab safety and I found this article. I’m really scared. 🙁

  36. Pingback: modus operandi « Jam With Me…

  37. Thanks for sharing this story and I am sorry to hear what happened with your daughter. It is a great lesson learned and I will be very careful when traveling to Manila. Thanks again

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *