5 NAIA cops relieved over extortion

MANILA, Philippines — Five police officers assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 were ordered relieved from their posts due to their alleged involvement in a taxi extortion scheme.

Supt. Levy Jose, Airport Police Department chief, issued the relief order against police officers Pablito Seño, Roberto Abuel, Bernardo Agra, Alejandro Pineda and Rodolfo Piedad who were allegedly involved in the scheme.

Eric Ines, Manila International Airport Authority general manager, vowed for a thorough and impartial investigation over the case as the MIAA works with the Land Transportation Office to verify reports of questionable ticket violations issued to taxi drivers at the airport.

Ines said the review aims to determine whether the citations were legitimate or used to coerce drivers into illicit arrangements.

Earlier, the Department of Transportation ordered the relief of the airport cops involved in the extortion scheme dubbed as the “60/40 racket.”

The cops allegedly demand a 40-percent share from a taxi driver’s earnings, compelling drivers to inflate fares and exploit unsuspecting passengers.

Culture of corruption

Meanwhile, Cavite 1st District Rep. Jolo Revilla lauded Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon for his swift and uncompromising action, saying the move is “necessary and commendable.”

“This isn’t just about one overpriced fare. It’s about dismantling a culture of corruption that targets travelers the moment they arrive on Philippine soil,” Revilla said.

He stressed that even isolated incidents inflict serious damage to the country’s reputation and public trust in airport institutions.

“Our airports are the face of the nation. When passengers are welcomed with scams and extortion, it reflects a broken system. Tourists don’t forget that experience and neither do our hardworking OFWs who deserve better,” Revilla said, referring to overseas Filipino workers.

The lawmaker warned that the extortion case points to a broader, long-standing problem of abuse by rogue elements embedded in the country’s transport system.

“These incidents have been going on for far too long. Predatory behavior like this isn’t just a petty scam, it sabotages tourism, undermines investor confidence and embarrasses the entire country,” Revilla said.

He called on airport authorities to expand surveillance operations, deploy undercover enforcement teams and strengthen safeguards for passengers, especially at critical gateways such as the NAIA and major seaports.

Revilla also urged collaboration with private stakeholders and tech providers to enable real-time fare monitoring, digital receipts and easily accessible complaint channels for passengers.

“The relief order is a strong first step, but it must not be the last. We need a sustained cleanup effort backed by transparency, technology and political will. We must protect the integrity of our transport hubs at all costs,” Revilla said.