A taxi driver in Cebu is now facing regulatory scrutiny after K-pop idol Soobin of TXT documented an overcharging attempt during what was supposed to be a routine ride — and made clear he had the whole thing on video.
The incident, which Soobin shared through a vlog on TXT’s official channel, began before the group even got into a cab. He and a companion had already checked fare estimates on an app, which put the cost of their trip at roughly P300. When a driver quoted them P500, Soobin pushed back, citing the figure he’d looked up.
The negotiation did not go smoothly. Mid-exchange, the driver jumped his asking price to P1,000 — a move Soobin made sure the camera caught.
“Did you hear that? I’m reporting this. Just now he said P1,000. Don’t edit this part out, okay?” he told the camera.
“I mean, P500 is already pushing it and then he raises it to P1,000,” he added.
The driver, for his part, cited fuel costs as justification. “It’s because the gas is very expensive,” he was heard saying on the vlog, before adding: “Only P1,000.”
Soobin also noted that the driver renewed his demand for the elevated fare even after completing the trip. He and his companion held firm and settled on P500.
“I’m filming all of this you know. I’ve got it all on film,” Soobin said during the encounter.
The footage has since drawn a response from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board. Chairman Vigor Mendoza II confirmed Thursday that the agency has launched an effort to identify the driver. Once found, Mendoza said the driver’s operations will be immediately suspended.
Should the overcharging behavior continue more broadly, Mendoza warned the agency is prepared to escalate — pursuing charges under the Public Service Act and estafa, alongside franchise violations, with the taxi subject to impoundment while any case proceeds through the courts.
