Robber preys on cabbie

CEBU, Philippines - A taxi driver lost his earnings yesterday dawn after he was robbed by a lone suspect who pretended to be his passenger.

Alfredo Sabal, 41, single and driver of Vanz System taxi, personally appeared at the Opao Police Station to report that he was divested of his P1,500 earnings and his Samsumg Wave cellular phone worth P12,000.

According to the victim, the suspect flagged him down along A.C. Cortes Street in Barangay Cambaro.  As the suspect was able to board his taxi and they began travelling, the suspect immediately poked an unknown caliber of firearm on Sabal and told him "Tulis ni bai."

The victim said he was left with no choice but to give his earnings and cellphone. As the place of incident was dim, the suspect just casually walked away after the robbery.

Meanwhile, a 26-year-old man who was walking on his way home past 2 a.m. yesterday sustained multiple injuries in the different parts of his body after he was mauled and robbed by an unidentified suspect.

The victim Julius Naparate, 26, and a resident of Purok Villamanga, Barangay Opao, was accompanied by Elisa del Rosario, 45, who witnessed the incident and reported to the Opao Police Station. While the victim was just a few meters towards his residence, he was allegedly grabbed by the lone suspect and was brought to a dim portion of the place.

Upon reaching the dark area, the suspect then mauled him several times and when he was already weak and was slumped towards the road, the suspect then divested his Cherry Mobile phone worth P499 and his P530 cash as the suspect hurriedly left the place.

Del Rosario who was still awake during that time and saw the incident then shouted for help. Neighbors brought the victim to the Mandaue City Hospital for treatment of his injuries, after which they immediately reported the incident to the police.

A follow-up operation is being conducted for the possible arrest of the suspect.