MANILA, Philippines–VIDEO of an airport policeman berating an “errant” taxi driver and breaking the cabbie’s taxi window is trending online and spurring mixed reactions.
The 2:34-minute video taken by one of the passengers of the cab and was shared on the Facebook page of Rarhy isz R-breezy.
In the footage, apparently taken outside the Naia Terminal 3, a uniformed policeman can be heard tapping on the window of the taxi, with license plate UVS 702, and asking for the driver’s license.
Apparently believing that he was being apprehended for illegally queuing at the airport, the driver refused to comply and tried to reason out: “Andaming nauna sa akin. Hindi puwede, sir.” (Many other drivers did that before me. You can’t do that.”
The driver continued: “Sila muna ang anuhin (hulihin) mo, sir. Hindi ako.” (Apprehend them first, sir. Not me.)
The officer told the cabbie that he had taken passengers in the middle of the road, but the cabbie insisted that “Marami na nga ang nagsakay doon, sir, ah.” (A lot took passengers there, sir)
Angered, the policeman banged the cab window with his right hand before hitting it again—shattering the glass.
A woman passenger can be heard saying: “Oh, Jesus.”
The officer continued: “Ano, ha? Akin na ang lisensya mo. Gago ka ha.” (Now what? Give me your license. You fool.”
At this point, a passenger can be heard pleading with the policeman: “Huwag mo naman kaming idamay.” (Please leave us out of this.)
The driver was forced to give up his license and the lawman told him to follow him back to the airport building.
It could not be immediately determined when the video was taken but it was posted on Rarhy isz R-breezy on Sunday.
As of 10:25 a.m. Monday, 3,899 people have like it and it has been shared more than 30,000 times.
A reactor, Ed Malay, posted: “Airport Police is separate from the PNP. Their authority is only within the airport facilities NAIA 1, 2, 3, and 4. Nevertheless what this Airport Police did was wrong and his superiors should retrain him, subject him to neuro- psycho exam, and suspend him for 30 days without pay.”
Arbie Portugal said: “Police guy is having a bad day. Driver made matters worse by being an asshole. No excuses for the police guy but i cant blame him for doing so in such difficult situations and people.”
For his part, Calvin Sy said: “Para lang klaro lang sa lahat, pare-pareho silang mali.” (To be clear, they are both wrong.)