Cabbie admits making up carnap tale

CEBU, Philippines - Operatives of Centro Police Station in Mandaue City were able to recover a taxi unit allegedly carnapped by three suspects as claimed by its driver.

Station chief Police Senior Inspector Jimmy Fortes and his men recovered yesterday morning the CTC taxi with plate number GXY 608 driven by Rogelio Narciso, 44, of Barangay Alegria, Cordova town.

Narciso reported to the police station early yesterday morning that he was allegedly robbed by three suspects, two of whom men and a woman.

He alleged that the three suspects boarded his taxi from Mango Avenue in Cebu City at around 3 a.m. and told him to take them to a university at the North Reclamation Area.

However, upon reaching reclamation area, one of the suspects seated at the back declared hold up. The other suspect who was sitting in front was the one who took away his P2,700 earnings.

Narciso further alleged that he was made to disembark from the taxi to which he yielded. One of the suspects allegedly took the driver's seat and sped off, leaving him behind.

Narciso said he was left with no choice but to walk to Centro Police Station to report the incident.

Everything sounded truthful until police said Narciso did not know that closed-circuit television cameras are installed at the city's street corners.

When the police reviewed the footages at the city's command center, it was found out that no incident ever took place in the area where Narciso claimed he was robbed.

Narciso then retracted his claims and said no such incident had happened.

He said he only made up the story because he was having financial problems at home.

He then told the police that he left the taxi at a roadside in Sitio Humay-humay in Barangay Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City.

Fortes said Narciso's sworn statement said he admitted to have lied.

Narciso was not detained as police will still have to wait for the taxi's operator whether or not to press charges against him. — Flor Z. Perolina (FREEMAN)