NBI man stops FX robber

A top agent of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) foiled an attempt by an armed man to rob a passenger of an FX taxi the other night in Pasay City.

Police said Sixto Comia, chief of the NBI Criminal Investigation Division, shot the holdup man at around 9:30 p.m. at the corner of Buendia Avenue and Roxas Boulevard. Police identified the suspect as Michael Anda, about 35 years old, and a native of Paliparan, Dasmariñas, Cavite based on a piece of paper found in his pocket.

Comia told investigators that he was in the area when he saw the suspect in the act of holding up a female passenger of a Toyota Tamaraw FX taxi. The victim, identified as Virginia Dingle, was threatened with a bladed weapon.

The NBI agent said he was driving along Roxas Boulevard when he noticed Anda was outside the taxi, pointing his knife at Dingle from an open window in an attempt to take her cell phone.

"I stepped down from my car, which was 20 yards away from the FX taxi. I fired two warning shots and shouted at him that I was an NBI agent," Comia said.

Comia said the warning shots didn’t stop Anda from carrying out his bad intentions, prompting the agent to shoot the suspect several times.

The suspect fled but fell bloodied in front of a barangay hall on San Juan street corner Roxas Boulevard, police said.

Probers said Rey Aquino, a tanod from Barangay 8 in Pasay City, and several companions saw the suspect fall to the ground and immediately brought him to the Pasay City General Hospital, where he is currently confined.

Anda sustained five gunshot wounds in various parts of the body.

Aside from admitting that he shot Anda with a Super .38 pistol, Comia told probers that his office will take charge of the investigation.

Comia told The Star he would file charges with the Pasay Prosecutor’s Office against Anda, whom he said has previous records of theft and robbery.

Comia also said statements given by Dingle, her companion and the FX driver, Rodolfo Petchon, will be presented before the inquest prosecutor along with the bladed weapon used by Anda.

Police, however, will conduct a separate follow-up investigation of the case.