Cebu cabbie faces raps after unwanted advances at passenger

A taxi driver in Cebu is facing criminal complaints after he allegedly made sexual advances at his passenger, according to a 24 Oras report Wednesday by Alan Domingo of GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak.

Alias Crista, a student and a member of the LGBTQ community, said the taxi driver touched her leg, which prompted her to secretly record the incident on her mobile device for her protection.

“Saglit lang, dito o dahil madilim dito, hindi halata,” the driver said in Bisaya.

(It will just be quick, it's dark here and it's not obvious.)

Despite Crista’s refusal, the driver persisted. When they arrived at Crista's destination, the driver stopped at a dimly lit portion of the road where he showed his private parts.

“Sabi ko sa kanya, ito na ang bayad ko, yung sukli ko lang. Dahil hindi ibibigay ang sukli dahil gusto niya hawakan ko yung ari niya. Pagbigay niya ng sukli, bumaba ako at kumaripas ng takbo,” Crista said.

(I paid my fare. I asked for  my change. He won't give me my change unless I touched his privates. After he gave me my change, I immediately got out of the cab and ran.)

After Crista posted the incident on social media, the driver's family reached out to apologize to her. However, the victim filed a complaint against the driver to prevent him from doing the same thing to his other passengers.

“Hindi kayo ang nasa sitwasyon ko, hindi ninyo ako kilala. What if hindi sa akin nangyari? What if sa kapatid mo?” she said.

(You are not in my situation, you do not know me. What if it didn't happen to me? What if it happened to your sibling?)

Meanwhile, Land Transportation Office 7 said they now have the victim's testimony and are waiting for the driver to give his side.

The taxi operator will also be summoned.

“Grave offense ito. May responsibility ang operator. Bakit sila kumuha ng ganitong klaseng driver? Hindi pwedeng ang driver lang ang may sala,” said Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 Director Eduardo Montealto.

(This is a grave offense. The operator bears responsibility. Why did they hire this kind of driver? The driver cannot be the only one at fault here.)—Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News