Thai pageant winners who visited Manila fall victim to 'taxi scam'

Two Thai models who recently visited the country for the Manila International Fashion Week claimed to have been mugged by “taxi” drivers.

Reigning Mister Thailand Universe titleholder Nattirut Srichatwanich and Miss Universe Sa Kaeo 2025 first runner-up Meriza “Risa” Meier, shared in great detail the incident that happened on June 13 on his social media platforms.

The Thai models saw a parked taxi cab at a convenience store and hailed it, even if the driver told them that he would not be using his meter. Nattirut then noticed that they were moving in the wrong direction based on his monitoring on an online map.

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According to Nattirut, the driver heeded their request to take their preferred route, but the driver later stopped the car, claiming it bogged down.

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The driver called another “taxi” to take them to their destination. But the next driver said he was not familiar with the place, so Nattirut showed him the map displayed on his iPhone 17 Pro Max.

The second driver told them he cannot finish the trip and asked them to step out of the car. He then called a third “taxi” and showed the next driver the directions on Nattirut’s smart phone.

But the two just sped away with his phone and left the Thai models on the road. A fourth car arrived and offered to take them to a police station to report the incident. Already suspicious, Nattirut declined the offer and just asked directions from other people to get to the precinct.

Nattirut said the police promptly responded to their complaint and brought them to where the incident took place. The authorities also worked on retrieving evidence such as CCTV footage.

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In his FB caption, Nattirut said the incident taught him not to trust anyone to pick a cell phone, among others.

“And “If we call a car on the roadside without knowing the source, we should call a trusted application so that we can track the driver if it happens. Unexpected surprises. Let [this] event be an inspiration to anyone who wants to travel abroad,” he said per translation on social media where he posted their pictures at the police substation in Bangkal, Makati.

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Meanwhile, Bench Bello, founder and organizer of MIFW event attended by Nattirut and Meier lamented the incident that beset his foreign guests.

“It is truly disappointing that while many Filipinos strive to showcase our country’s warmth and hospitality, the actions of a few individuals—particularly those involved in this incident—can tarnish the image of our nation,” Bello posted on social media.

“As the Founder of [MIFW], I am deeply saddened to hear about this unfortunate incident,” he further said. “Such behavior should never be tolerated.”

He also called on the Philippine National Police to thoroughly investigate the incident to ensure that justice will be served.

“This is also why I always advise our international guests and delegates to use trusted ride-hailing services for a safer and more secure transportation experience,” he added.

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Bello also pleaded to Filipinos to work together in uplifting the country’s reputation in the international community. “The actions of a few should never define the true character and hospitality of the Filipino people,” he said. /edv