Duterte reminds taxi drivers, finders on honesty

DAVAO CITY, May 11 (PIA) Mayor Rodrigo Duterte told taxi operators to provide their drivers with loose change readily available in their transaction with passengers.

Speaking in the public affairs program, “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa,” He said loose change is a must for drivers to have an operating fund in the course of their job.

Duterte stressed drivers must give the change since passengers have the right to sue them either for estafa or theft if they failed to do so.

”The change is not your money. If you fail to give it, it is estafa or outright theft, because that is not your money,” he pointed out.

Duterte said drivers must return to the passenger, any excess of the amount paid to the service rendered.

He said making excuses or mambo-jambo may not lead to arrest due to traffic violation, but an arrest due to estafa under Revised Penal Code 318 which is other deceits 1, 2, 3, for getting away with someone else’s money.

“It carries a penalty of two years and one day to six years and three months,” Duterte pointed out.

He said even finding valuables and then appropriating them for one self can be looked upon as theft.

Duterte said on recovered items, finders can report them to the police with the recovery reported on the police blotter with the corresponding name of the policeman, either the station commander or the deputy station commander noted on the report.

Earlier, he lauded three athletes who hail from Davao Region during the latest’s Palarong Pambansa for honesty, after they returned to authorities P50,000 cash while practicing their event.  (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)