TXT’s Soobin reports taxi overcharging attempt in Cebu

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

MANILA, Philippines — K-pop group TXT member Soobin almost fell victim to overcharging by a taxi driver in Cebu.

The Korean boy band member revealed the incident in one of the vlogs uploaded on TXT’s official channel.

Soobin and a companion are seen checking taxi fares to their destination and found that the estimated fare was only around P300.

The next scene shows them trying to haggle over the fare. A taxi driver told them the fare was P500. Soobin said they did their research and told the driver it was only P300, according to an app they checked prior to talking to him.

“I’m filming all of this you know. I’ve got it all on film,” Soobin said in Korean, as translated into English.

“It’s because the gas is very expensive,” the taxi driver was heard telling them.

“Only P1,000,” the driver added.

Soobin and his companion were in disbelief and went on to haggle over the fare.

“Did you hear that? I’m reporting this. Just now he said P1,000. Don’t edit this part out, okay?” Soobin tells the camera.

“I mean, P500 is already pushing it and then he raises it to P1,000,” he said.

The K-pop singer added that the driver even tried to ask for P1,000 after dropping them at their destination. He and his companion, however, argued and told the driver they would only pay P500.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Vigor Mendoza II on Thursday said they are now looking for the taxi driver who attempted to overcharge TXT’s Soobin. Mendoza said the agency will suspend operations once they find the identity of the driver.

He added that if similar incidents do not stop, they will file a case against the driver and taxi operator for violating the Public Service Act and estafa, on top of franchise violations. The taxi will also be impounded pending trial.

RELATED: Seventeen's Joshua Hong reveals taxi scam during Manila visit, LTFRB releases statement