BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS & GLENDA TAYONA
ILOILO City – A member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community claimed a taxi driver sexually harassed him.
Alias “Ken” said he boarded the taxi on Quezon Street, City Proper on Monday, June 19, after processing his passport at a mall.
“Hambal ko…ma-taxi na lang ko guro ay kay grabe gid ‘ya ang init. Taga-Lapuz ko daan so alang-alang man nga maglakat-lakat pa ko…so nag-taxi na lang ko kay para dasig kag dayon makapahuway man ko,” Ken said in an interview with DYFM Bombo Radyo Iloilo.
He took the taxi’s front seat and told the driver his destination — Barangay Progreso, Lapuz district.
Upon nearing the Iloilo Central Market, according to Ken, the driver – who was wearing a pair of shorts and shades – suddenly opened his cell phone, watched a pornographic video and ate ice cream, all while driving.
Ken said the driver started muttering profanities.
“Ang akon gina-worry makapanaog ko bala nga safe. Budlay na ya bala basi manaog ko bala sa indi ko ginhambal nga sa diin bala [nga lugar]. Amo na nga nagduha-duha ko,” Ken said, adding that this prompted him to take a video recording the situation.
He further claimed that when the taxi reached Lapuz Norte, he felt the driver would go straight to Bo. Obrero. When the taxi passed by the front of a church in Lapuz, the driver suddenly grabbed the victim’s hand to touch his private part but Ken resisted.
“Gulpi lang ginbutong sang driver ang kamot ko, hambal ko [sa iya] ‘may migo ko, Sir’. Ginhambalan ya ko dayon nga ‘may asawa na ko gani kag bata’,” Ken added.
The LGBTQ member pulled back his hand and immediately got out of the taxi at a covered gym in Progreso, Lapuz.
Nervous, Ken said, he was unable to get the taxi’s license plate number.
Meanwhile, Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) head Jeck Conlu said they have already identified the driver – a resident of Lambunao, Iloilo – and are waiting for the victim’s identification.
In a separate interview with Bombo Radyo Iloilo, Conlu said the driver was 25 years old at most, while the taxi company was also based outside the city.
Conlu also confirmed that the driver had negative records with taxi operators.
The PTSMO has coordinated with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to conduct a parallel investigation.
Association of Taxi Operators in Panay (ATOP) president Perfecto Yap said it was an isolated case, adding he is open to accommodate the victim although his office is yet to receive a formal complaint.
Yap said ATOP does not tolerate such acts even if the driver was a member of their association.
“And I think ang the best for you to do is to go to the person…kag mangayo pasensya,” said Yap.
He also said if proven guilty, the driver could face suspension.
City gov’t to extend aid to passenger
The city government is extending necessary assistance to Ken.
Upon the directives of Mayor Jerry Treñas, Conlu said the city government will assist the victim file a complaint against the taxi driver before the LTFRB and LTO.
“Indi ni ya normal sa aton ang amo ni klase nga driver. Mga taxi drivers ta diri sa syudad mabuot kag honest,” said Conlu.
Meanwhile, LTFRB-6 director Richard Osmeña has coordinated with the city government regarding the incident. He also issued a show-cause order to the operator/owner of the taxi unit.
“I am coordinating with LTFRB through Jeck Conlu on the possible action against the taxi driver who harassed a passenger inside the vehicle. The LTFRB is also studying the possible penalties on both the taxi operator and driver after due hearing,” said Treñas.
Based on the viral video, the taxi driver was not wearing a uniform which is a traffic violation.
“We will not tolerate this kind of behavior from taxi drivers in Iloilo City. Furthermore, the driver was not in proper uniform,” Treñas stressed./PN
