Taxi drivers work with city gov’t to protect ranks
The Iloilo United Taxi Drivers Association (IUTA) has declared an all-out war against criminals victimizing taxi drivers in Iloilo City.
Several members of the association yesterday attended a consultative meeting called by Councilor Joshua Alim, chairman of the committee on police matters, to push for an ordinance requiring taxi operators to build a protective cage or barrier in the driver’s seat of their taxi.
Representatives of the Land Transportation Office and Iloilo City Police Office also attended the meeting.
Leo Salde, spokesperson of IUTA, said they are in favor of the proposal because it is one way to protect the lives of taxi drivers.
“We pledge also to cooperate with the policemen and follow the rules for our security,” he said.
Also discussed was the proposed design of the cage to be built inside the taxi.
Based on their proposal, the IUTA wants the cage to be adjustable. The barrier between the driver and passenger at the front seat should also be attached to the floor.
Aside from these, the group also suggested that the materials to be used are all aluminum.
“We are calling on the drivers and operators to join our cause because we don’t want more taxi drivers to be victimized before we make a move,” Salde said.
Identified
Meanwhile, Senior Insp. Graciano Zapanta, deputy chief of the ICPO Operations Unit, said they continue to conduct intelligence operations to neutralize the True Brown Style (TBS) 13, the gang tagged behind the series of robberies and killings of taxi drivers in Iloilo.
Zapanta said they have already identified the leaders and members of TBS 13.
He, however, refused to elaborate on their findings to avoid jeopardizing their operations.
Initially, the TBS 13 gang has 35 original members in Iloilo City, but the police has recently monitored that the group has expanded their recruitment operations to other areas in Iloilo province.
Zapanta also said the ICPO is verifying the owners of the three vans being used by the gang in their operations.
He said they have received reports that before Kaoli Khan taxi driver Welter Ermita was killed, a white van was spotted tailing his vehicle.
These three vans are reportedly being kept at the house of a TBS 13 member in La Paz district.*
