The past two weeks, social media has been rife with stories about being drugged, then robbed, by taxi drivers. Here’s how it works: the driver either sprays a suspicious liquid on the air-con vent or waves a moist towel in front of it; shortly after, the victims report being groggy and disoriented.
Here’s one post we read on Facebook:
“I saw a one-liter bottle of mineral water near the brake and clutch area, and a white rag just a few inches from it. Now I’m sure most of you are aware of the latest MO of taxi drivers. The driver takes the cap off the bottle, then pour just a few drops of whatever solution there is inside that bottle on a rag, then they air it out through the air-con vent. I’ve read at least four Facebook entries about such encounters, and how they suddenly feel woozy moments after the rag is set on the vent, that they know they had to at least open the window, or just get out, may it be in the middle of traffic or the highway. Thankfully, my phone was already at hand. I read out loud the plate number and the name of the taxi (to let him know I’m taking note of everything) – UVT 944, Sun & Bim Taxi, Toyota Avanza – and texted these to my officemate (who was keeping me company while waiting for the cab), my mom, and my aunt.
“I told them I wasn’t sure if I’m just being paranoid or if I’m about to get victimized. My aunt tried calling me, but we couldn’t hear each other. Nevertheless, I pretended that I was talking to her on the phone, telling her where I was at the moment. It was a bit disconcerting because the driver was watching my every move from the rearview mirror while I was on the phone. It became a bit more terrifying when he started swerving from lane to lane at an uneven speed – which made me feel a bit dizzy. He also started turning the airconditioning on and off, which was unusual because there were no steep roads ahead that would require him to turn anything off to gain revving power.
“I took note of the driver’s physical appearance, and texted the details to my mom: he’s of short built, slightly dark, stout, and has a mustache. He was wearing white polo and khakis, a black watch on his left wrist, and about three to four baller bands on his right…
“…the driver made three more attempts in reaching for the rag, but would quickly let go of it when I make exaggerated moves. He covered his license when he handed it to the guard by the gate of the subdivision (I was hoping to get his name.). He was able to drop me off to my destination (lucky me). It was kind of eerie when I handed him my payment. He didn’t take his eyes off me the moment I got off, as if he was making sure I was in the place where I wanted to be. Even when I closed the gate and peered through the hole, the cab was still out front. After about 10 to 20 seconds, he drove off.”
Two alleged victims of these taxi scams were interviewed on TV Patrol Weekend yesterday. No one is questiong their credibility, but even the news presenters themselves cannot help but wonder, if the drivers are indeed spraying chemical that causes dizziness, why is it that the drivers don’t suffer the same from the same effect as the passengers? Watch this ABS-CBN news report. MM
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