The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) warned taxi drivers against snubbing passengers as 58 taxi drivers were reported to have been sanctioned pursuant to the board’s “Oplan Isnabero.”

Gia Reyes of the LTRB-Public Information Office cited that the penalty imposed against first-time offenders is a fine of P2,000; second-timers are slapped with a P3,000 fine and 30-day suspension of their license.

Third-time offenders, meanwhile, are fined P3,000 and face cancellation of their franchise.

Reyes reported that as of Friday last week, 58 taxi drivers were apprehended since the the launch of “Oplan Isnabero.”

The cited operation plan aims to dissuade taxi drivers from selecting and snubbing passengers.

Reyes said that most offenders were caught for the first and some were driving colorum taxis.

As a result of the operations, 17 colorum taxis and are now impounded in a LTRB compound in Taytay, Rizal.

LTFRB board member Al Parreno, meanwhile, said that the tally showed the effectiveness of the campaign against “choosy” drivers and operators who are unable to discipline their drivers.

”’Refusal to convey’ ranks very high among the complaints we receive against taxi operators. We need to ensure that we have drivers and operators who serve the public not just their own interests,” Parreno said in an interview.