Taxi driver dies, two teeners fall

CEBU, Philippines - Two teenagers have been arrested in connection with the killing of a taxi driver late the other night in barangay Apas, this city.

The suspects were identified as Julian Ken Paca, 18 years old, and a 16-year-old companion, who also sustained a stab wound.

The victim was identified as 38-year-old Roel Aguilo Sagot, 38 of sitio Mahayag, barangay San Isidro, Talisay City, who was driving a Christoff Taxi unit with plate number GXG-770.

He is survived by his wife and five children.

Responding policemen found him bloodied inside the taxi that he was driving and 50 meters away, police found the wounded minor, who is a second year high school student in a private school and a resident of Mandaue City.

The incident happened at the corner of Wright Bros. and Fulton Sts. at around 11 p.m.

The wounded suspect was taken to the Cebu City Medical Center where he identified Paca as the one who stabbed the driver.

Paca, a freshman IT student, who went to the police station with his father, denied the allegations. He is a resident of barangay Kasambagan.

In an interview with Paca, he alleged that before the incident happened, the minor invited him to go to the house of their friend, a certain Alfonso to have some drinks.

They took Sagot’s taxi, but when they passed to the house of their friend, Paca said that he asked his companion how come they did not stop and was told that they were to pass by another friend’s house first.

When they reached their destination, the minor allegedly went down the taxi while Paca waited inside the cab with the driver.

He alleged that his friend came back a few minutes later already armed with a knife and suddenly stabbed the driver on the neck.

Paca said that he got out of the cab and fled upon seeing what happened while the driver was crying in pain and kept on honking the car horn to attract attention.

He also alleged that the 16 year old had confided to him last week about his problem on the payment of tuition fees as his father reportedly did not send money.

The police found P2,100 in assorted bills inside the taxi as well as two cellular phones, one of which was allegedly owned by the wounded suspect. Two knives were also found.

SPO3 Rey Cuyos told The Freeman that they already coordinated with the Theft and Robbery Section after the victim’s wife said that another wallet owned by the victim was missing.

Cuyos said that the victim might have tried to defend himself and stabbed one of the suspects.

Paca is now in the stockade of the Cebu City Police Office while the minor is still recovering at the CCMC. —Antoniette Parce /NLQ   (FREEMAN NEWS)