Three men arrested for robbing taxi

CEBU, Philippines - Police yesterday arrested three men who robbed a taxi about 3 a.m. in barangay Basak-Pardo.

Tanods of barangay Basak-Pardo who were patrolling the area caught the suspects on the act of trying to run away from an RDSAMC taxi with plate number GXG 453 driven by Ernesto Adrino.

The suspects were identified as Rico Pitogo Sonido, 30; Jeffrey Espinoso Opon, 18; and Christopher Tolino, 26. Police records indicate that Sonido had been imprisoned for nine years for murder. The three are now detained at the Mambaling Police Station. 

SPO4 Eldin Miñoza told The FREEMAN that the suspects flagged Adrino’s taxi at the St. Paul College in barangay Bulacao and declared the hold-up in barangay Basak, pointing a gun at Adrino.

Adrino said that when he refused, one of the suspects stabbed him on the arm and subsequently took his P1,500 worth of earnings.

Arresting tanods recovered an improvised homemade caliber and a kitchen knife measuring 12 inches from the suspects. — Bentley Naire Luyong, CIT MassCom Intern/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)