***Two Stories***
Story No. 1
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Camille P. Balagtas
People's TONIGHT
August 20, 2002
"GO AFTER ABUSIVE TAXI DRIVERS" - DE CASTRO
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Disturbed that one of the primary concerns contained in the
recently released Australian travel advisory was the extortion by
some taxi drivers of tourists, Senate tourism committee chairman
Senator Noli "Kabayan" de Castro called on the agencies
concerned to act on the complaints aired against these abusive
taxi drivers.
Though admitting that instances of abuse among taxi drivers are
nothing new, Senator de Castro believes that it is about time
that authorities seriously take steps to put a stop to these
abuses that merited a travel advisory from the Australian embassy
this time around.
The Australian embassy has warned its citizens in the country of
reports that an increasing number of taxi drivers use threats to
extort money from passengers.
"Tinatawagan natin ang Dept. of Transportation and
Communications na utusan ang mga saklaw nitong ahensya - ang Land
Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board at Land
Transportation Office, na paigtingin ang kampanya laban sa
abusadong taxi drivers at operators nito sa pamamagitan ng
pagbawi sa kanilang prangkisa at pagkansela ng lisensya ng mga
drayber kapag napatunayan ang kanilang pangaabuso."
De Castro said that such LTFRB's measure should be accompanied by
Metro Manila Development Authority's step of having these abusive
drivers face the penalty imposable upon traffic violators.
According to MMDA's chart of violations and penalties, those
caught violating Code 140, which is overcharging would be paying
a fine of P500.
De Castro noted that some taxi drivers have become bolder for
they are not only accused now with overcharging and refusal to
convey passengers, but also with extortion of tourists.
"Ngayon hindi lang traffic rules ang kanilang nilalabag,
nangingikil pa sila sa mga kawawang turista sa bansa. Dapat sa
kanila ay makulong at kumpiskahn ang kanilang taxi."
Senator de Castro noted that perennial problems like kidnapping,
presence of robbery gangs and drug addicts that dissuade tourists
from visiting have not been completely addressed, that problems
with abusive taxi drivers would be the last things we need at the
moment.
"Sa halip na makatulong natin ang mga taxi drivers sa Metro
Manila na maghikayat ng mga turista sa ating bansa, nagiging
karagdagan pa sila sa mga dahilang umiwas na bumisita ditto sa
atin."
Meanwhile, Senator Manuel Villar urged the Australian government
to consider its advisory asking its citizens to refrain from
travelling to Metro Manila and parts of Mindanao.
According to Villar, "this certainly sends a negative signal
to the international community especially at a tivme when we are
trying hard to attract tourists into our country.
Villar said that the advisory bring to fore the need to improve
the peace and order situation in the country and protect tourists
from criminal elements.
"There is definitely a need to heighten measures to protect
tourists who come t our country. The Department of Tourism must
coordinate with the PNP and the law enforcers tocome up with a
strong program to heighten tourist protection." said Villar.
///Camille p. balagtas
Story No. 2
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Camille P. Balagtas
People's TONIGHT
August 20, 2002
Barbers to Lacson: "Why link the President to your
case?"
=========================================================
Administration Senator Robert Barbers got irked to his colleague
Senator Panfilo Lacson and defended President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo against the attack made by the latter ,as he is being
accused of perjury before the Office of the Ombudsman by the
National Bureau of Investigation.
Barbers is wondering why his colleagues from the minority camp is
dragging the name of the Chief Executive into the issue when it
is the Department of Justice and the NBI who conducted the
investigation and are pursuing the case against Lacson.
'If Sen. Lacson has nothing to hide relative the controversy and
wants to defend himself from the accusations of NBI Director
Reynaldo Wycoco, whom I believe is just doing his job, then he
must do so in the proper forum. Nevertheless, why link the
President to his case?" The Mindanao solon asked.
The former Interior and Local government Secretary is disputing
the claim of Lacson that President Arroyo is bent on putting him
to jail and that the administrations is singling him out.
Barbers, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and
Illegal Drugs also said that if Lacson and Wycoco have personal
differences, Mrs. Arroyo's name should not be dragged into the
controversy.
The Mindanao solon also belied Lacson's pronouncement that the
three Senate Committee which investigated the allegations of
Intelligence Service of the Armed (ISAFP) chief. Col. Victor
Corpus particularly on his alleged involvement drug trafficking
did not have any basis in coming out with their findings.
Barbers' stressed that his committee along with the committees on
National Defense and Security and Accountability of Public
Officers and Investigations(blue ribbon) earlier recommended that
Lacson and several police officials be prosecuted for drug
trafficking and kidnap for ransom after finding that there is
prima facie evidence to support it.///camille p. balagtas
NOTE:
SEC. HEHERSON ALVAREZ CONFIRMED BEFORE THE CA.
STORY TO FOLLOW