Five police officers stationed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 have been removed from duty following allegations of their involvement in a taxi extortion scheme that reportedly preyed on arriving passengers and taxi drivers.
Airport Police Department chief Supt. Levy Jose confirmed the relief of officers Pablito Seño, Roberto Abuel, Bernardo Agra, Alejandro Pineda, and Rodolfo Piedad amid mounting reports of their participation in a scheme infamously dubbed the “60/40 racket.” Under this system, the officers allegedly forced taxi drivers to give up 40% of their earnings in exchange for being allowed to operate freely within the airport premises.
Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Eric Ines assured the public that a full and impartial probe is underway. He said the MIAA is coordinating with the Land Transportation Office to review the issuance of traffic violations at the airport, verifying whether these were legitimate or used as leverage to extort drivers.
The Department of Transportation earlier ordered the immediate relief of the officers implicated in the scheme.
Cavite 1st District Rep. Jolo Revilla praised Transport Secretary Vince Dizon’s swift action, saying, “This isn’t just about one overpriced fare. It’s about dismantling a culture of corruption that targets travelers the moment they arrive on Philippine soil.”
Revilla warned that even a single case of abuse could severely tarnish the country’s image and the public’s trust in institutions that are supposed to protect travelers. “Our airports are the face of the nation. When passengers are welcomed with scams and extortion, it reflects a broken system,” he said, adding that tourists and returning OFWs deserve much better.
He further described the extortion issue as symptomatic of a deeper, systemic failure. “Predatory behavior like this isn’t just a petty scam, it sabotages tourism, undermines investor confidence, and embarrasses the entire country.”
Calling for sweeping reforms, Revilla urged the government to ramp up surveillance, deploy undercover operatives, and modernize safeguards across the country’s key entry points. He also encouraged partnerships with private tech firms to enable real-time fare tracking and easier complaint channels for passengers.
“The relief order is a strong first step, but it must not be the last,” he emphasized. “We need a sustained cleanup effort backed by transparency, technology, and political will.”
