Robber flees with taxi, hurts 2

CEBU, Philippines - Police arrested a man who allegedly tried to rob a taxicab driver, commandeered the vehicle, and in his haste to escape, rammed onto a motorcycle at around 1 a.m. yesterday along Natalio Bacalso Avenue at the corner of Bayanihan Village in barangay Basak-Pardo, Cebu City.

Gerry Apas, 31 years old, a resident of Alang-Alang in Mandaue City was arrested for reportedly robbing and fleeing onboard the taxicab driven beforehand by one Bienvenido Casas, 60, of barangay Tisa, also in this city.

Initial investigation showed that the victim was plying the south expressway to pick up passengers when the suspect flagged him down and embarked in the vehicle. But after a few meters away, the suspect pointed a knife at him and declared a holdup.

This then prompted the victim to jump out of the vehicle which gave the suspect the opportunity to take over the said vehicle and sped off in an attempt to escape. The vehicle named Tres Mujeres bears plate numbers GHD-462.

But in his haste, the suspect rammed onto a motorcycle thereby injuring its male driver and a companion riding in pillion. Names of the victims were not disclosed as of this writing.

It was also learned that two policemen nearby noticed the commotion and eventually arrested the suspect. A knife was recovered from Apas.

He reasoned out that financial concerns prompted him to carry out the crime. He said he needs money badly for the needs of his pregnant wife.

A charge for robbery-carnapping was filed against the suspect yesterday before the prosecutor’s office; while the injured victims, who were taken to the Cebu City Medical Center, are now in stable condition. — Niña G. Sumacot/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)