Cabbie who abruptly dropped off passenger in viral video apologizes, says he was suffering from diarrhea

• Taxi driver in viral video apologized to passenger for suddenly dropping him off and his grandson
• He explained his side, said he was experiencing diarrhea at the time
• LTFRB to still decide whether driver’s excuse is valid

MANILA, Philippines – The taxi driver who was recorded on video suddenly dropping off his passenger apologized to the latter; saying he was experiencing a severe stomachache at the time.

Meeting his passenger Bullinger Velano at the office of the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB), cabbie Marianito Pelez explained that he was only rushing to find a toilet because he could not hold it in any longer.

“Ililipat ko po kayo ng ibang sasakyan kasi talagang hindi ko na po kaya, malapit na pong lumabas. ‘Yun po ang una kong naisip dahil po talagang hindi na po kaya,” GMA News quoted him as telling Velano.

[I was going to transfer you to another vehicle because I could not take it any longer, it was almost coming out. That was my first thought because I could not hold it in any longer.]

For his part, Velano — who was with his one-year-old grandson when they were dropped off at the corner of EDSA and Gil Puyat Avenue — said the incident left a bad taste in his mouth.

“Talagang pipilitin niya akong pababain. Pinatay niya ‘yung metro niya, sabi niya, ‘wag n’yo na bayaran ‘yung sa metro n’yo.’ Sabi ko, ‘hindi, babayaran ko ‘yan.’ Sabi niya, ‘hindi, basta bumaba kayo rito’,” he said,

[He was insisting we get off the cab. He turned off the meter and he said, ‘Don’t pay the fare in the meter anymore’. I told him, ‘I will pay for it. He answered, ‘no, just get off.’]

According to former LTFRB board member Ariel Inton, the altercation between the two may have been caused by miscommunication which was then aggravated by Metro Manila’s unbearable traffic.

Despite Pelez’s apology, the LFTRB said they will still hear the case to decide whether the taxi driver’s excuse is valid.

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