Two men rob, shoot taxi driver

A 34-year-old taxi driver was shot and wounded by two unidentified robbers in barangay Ibo, Lapu-Lapu City Tuesday dawn.

Police identified the victim as Judito Alegado Echavez, a resident of Sudlon, barangay Lahug.

Initial police investigation revealed that while in barangay Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City, the two men requested Echavez to bring them to barangay Ibo.

Upon reaching barangay Ibo, the men, who were armed with two caliber .45 pistols, declared the robbery and divested Echavez of his P2,100 earnings. But one of the robbers then shot the victim, grazing the right part of his forehead.

The victim immediately run from his taxicab but was still shot upon by the robbers, who fled towards a bunkhouse inside a construction site.

Another taxi driver brought Echavez to the Velez Hospital where he was later declared out of danger by the attending physician.

The taxi's windshield and the headrest of the driver's seat were hit during the robbery. Police recovered two empty shells of caliber .45 pistols from the floor of the rear seat, and from the driver's seat. Another empty shell was recovered about 50 meters away from the taxi.

Recovered from the bunkhouse was a dark blue New York bull cap, which the lawmen believed was left behind by the robbers.

Police are still conducting follow-up investigation into the incident. - Norvie S. Misa