We’ve heard of too many stories about bad taxi drivers that it’s easy to be paranoid whenever we ride cabs. But you have to admit, it pays to be careful.
A story shared by Anne M. on Facebook is making the rounds online, detailing what could be a modus operandi against passengers. But because she was vigilant, she was able to report to the proper authorities before it was too late. According to Anne:
Pauwi kami galing SM Fairview dahil nag grocery kami ng kapatid ko, mama, at papa ko. Nakapila kami sa taxi lane tapos may taxi na nakuha yung papa ko na hindi nakapila. Minsan kasi may ganung taxi sa SM kaya okay lang. Una akong sumakay sa taxi habang yung kapatid, mama, at papa ko pinapasok yung mga pinamili sa compartment. Pagpasok ko, sabi ng taxi driver “Ma’am magdadag po ba kayo?” Sabi ko “Kuya, bakit kami magdadagdag?” Sabi niya “Kasi po traffic.” Sabi ko “May daan sa SSS, dun nalang tayo dumaan.”
(We were on our way home from SM Fairview because I went to the grocery with my parents and my sibling. We were in line at the taxi lane, and my father got a cab that wasn’t in line. I rode the cab while my family put our groceries in the compartment. When I entered, the driver said, “Ma’am, will you add to the fare?” I asked why I should add and he said it was because it was traffic. I told him I knew a route near SSS.)
The driver claimed not to know the route so Anne guided the driver. They then roughly passed over a hump (which Anne suspected the driver did on purpose) and complained that there were too many passengers. No one complained but Anne felt angry.
Pagpasok namin ng SSS, barubal magdrive si kuya, nainis na talaga ko, kaya pinicturan ko yung number sa may pintuan na kadalasan naman na dapat nakapintura pero nakasticker lang. Naghinala na ko kaya hinanap ko yung ID niya na dapat nakasabit sa rear view mirror pero wala, kaya sinisilip silip ko yung mukha ni kuya para makilala ko. Napansin ko din na nakababa ng half yung bintana niya. Napansin din ng kapatid ko na panay lingon ni kuya at tingin ng tingin. Nagkatinginan pa sila ng kapatid ko sa may rear view mirror.
(When we passed by SSS, the driver was driving roughly. I felt angry so I took a picture of the plate number on the door, which is usually painted on.I began to suspect so I looked for the ID that was supposed to be hung over the rearview mirror but it wasn’ there. So I decided to steal glances at the driver so I could memorize his face. I then noticed that his window was rolled down halfway. My sibling also noticed that the he kept looking at the rearview mirror. They even made eye contact.)
Later on, Anne’s sibling felt funny so he asked if their mom was feeling dizzy. That’s when Anne also felt her chest tighten and she had difficulty breathing.
Buti nalang naisip ko na yung shortcut na tinuro kong daan sa taxi ay dadaan ng barangay, kaya nung malapit na kami sa barangay pinatabi ko na kay kuya at sinabi ko na itapat niya sa barangay. Dali dali ako bumaba at pinababa ko din yung mga kasama ko. Pagbaba ko hirap na hirap na ko huminga at ang lakas na ng heartbeat ko. Yung kapatid ko hinang hina na din. Tumawag ako ng tao sa barangay para di makaalis ung taxi driver. Pinapabuksan ng papa ko yung compartment para makuha yung mga pinamili pero ayaw nung taxi driver. Nung barangay na nagsabi at nagalit na tsaka niya lang binuksan.
(It was a good thing that the shortcut I taught the driver would pass by the barangay hall. That’s when I asked him to stop. I got down right away and asked my family to get down, too. When I alighted, I had difficulty breathing and my heart was beating fast. My sibling also felt weak. I called someone from the barangay so the driver couldn’t get away. My father asked the driver to open the compartment but the driver refused. It was only when a barangay representative arrived did he open it.)
When they got in, the driver claimed that he was also feeling dizzy. He then demanded that he be brought to the hospital. He also claimed that his last passenger asked to be dropped off at a hospital, and was using a dextrose.
It’s not clear whether the driver was attempting to steal from them, but it pays to always be aware of your surroundings.
What do you think? Share your thoughts below!
