The fuel crisis has us all hurting—doubly so for the people who make their living out on the road. But there’s simply no excuse for getting a leg up by taking advantage of other people.
Another ‘gas-and-run’ incident was reported over the weekend, this time involving a taxi driver at a Petron station in Ortigas. The sequence plays out similarly to the case reported back in May: The driver pulls in to have a full tank of gas filled up, only to drive off after refusing to settle his P2,516.51 bill. That’s a big chunk of money, no matter who you ask.
Call it diskarte, call it paraan. However you spin it, there still isn’t an excuse for this kind of behavior, coming from anyone. Yes, gas is wildly expensive these days—I would know, I track the fuel price updates every week—but the taxi driver had to understand the implications of what he just did, right?
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Look: LTO show cause order for ‘gas-and-run’ offender
Fortunately, the whole thing was caught on the station’s CCTV, and the attendant was able to post about his experience on social media. The incident went viral over the weekend, and the LTO has put out a show cause order for the taxi driver in question. The driver has been ordered to make an appearance at the agency’s Intelligence and Investigation Division on October 27.
The driver must face charges of Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle, as well as other possible charges that turn up during the LTO’s investigation. His license has also been suspended for 90 days; his taxi has been placed under alarm status and is due to be impounded soon.
LTO chief Markus Lacanilao said: “Ang pagkakaroon ng lisensya ay may kaakibat na responsibilidad hindi lang sa pagmamaneho kundi pati sa tamang asal bilang motorista. Kung may pananagutang kailangang harapin, hindi dapat takasan. Mananagot ang mga mapatutunayang lumabag matapos ang kaukulang proseso.”
We’re all just trying to get by with our daily lives in an honest and civilized manner. But it’s cases like this that make us shake our heads and sigh.
