Man jailed for robbing, stabbing cabby

A man is now detained at the Fuente police station after he and a friend allegedly robbed then stabbed a taxi driver in barangay Capitol Site at past 1 a.m. yesterday.

Glenn Flores, of Tres de Abril Street, barangay Labangon, however, denied he participated in the robbery and accused his friend, whom he identified only as a certain "Bro" as the one who started everything.

The victim, Isagani Ditad, 35, of Cansaga, Consolacion town, and a driver of Gambler Taxi, sustained five stab wounds to the back, left shoulder and head. He is now recuperating at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

Fuente police investigator Elmo Rosales said Flores and his friend got on the taxi along Natalio Bacalso Avenue and asked to be taken to Peace Valley in Lahug.

Upon arrival, Bro, who was seated in back, grabbed Ditad by the neck and declared a robbery while Flores allegedly took P800 from Ditad. But Ditad resisted and the two started stabbing him with knives.

"Niangkon mana siya gabii nga nagpuli-puli sila og dunggab sa driver kay nisukol man unya dako pa nila og lawas. Ang wala niya angkona nga siya maoy nagkuha sa kuwarta," Rosales said.

After the incident the subjects immediately got off and ran away while another driver who saw the blue emergency light of Ditad's taxi chased the fleeing robbers who escaped into the darkness.

Later, PO1 Elmer Lahayan of the Drug Enforcement Unit, detailed as security to councilor Jun Pe who lives in Peace Valley, heard a commotion nearby.

When he checked he saw Flores washing his bruised legs so he held him pending verification since he heard the robbery alarm flashed by the Mobile Patrol Group.

Ditad later identified Flores as one of those who robbed and stabbed him.

But Flores said he did not know his friend was going to rob the taxi because he just went with him and they were supposed to go to Lahug.

Rosales said Flores also admitted they sniffed shabu in A. Lopez Street then had a few drinks along Natalio Bacalso Avenue before flagging the taxi.

He also said Flores claimed he knew "Bro" only a week ago.