Taxi driver arrested for robbing, molesting passenger in Sta. Mesa

After more than two weeks of surveillance operations, police finally nabbed a 36-year-old taxi driver who allegedly robbed and sexually molested at knifepoint his 17-year-old female passenger inside a motel in Sta. Mesa, Manila last Dec. 10, 2003.

Charges of theft, acts of lasciviousness and violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law were filed yesterday by the police against Joseph Relayosa, married, of 1342 Legarda street, Sampaloc, Manila.

Relayosa was positively identified by a Nursing student as the driver of a "Kayumanggi" taxi with license plates PVC-910, which she hailed to take her home at about 8 p.m. of Dec. 10.

The victim said that instead of taking her home, the suspect drove her to the Giliw Lodge in Sta. Mesa and, at knifepoint ,sexually molested her. The victim added that the suspect also took her shoulder bag containing her personal belongings.

After learning of the victim’s plight, an enraged Western Police District (WPD) director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong directed his men to conduct intensive follow-up operations for the possible identification and arrest of the suspect.

WPD-Theft and Robbery Section chief Senior Inspector Benjamin Reyes formed a team of operatives, led by Inspector Vicente Amante, to scour the Sampaloc area and stake out a number of motels and inns in case the suspect strikes again using the same modus operandi.

Police got a break when on Jan. 11, operatives spotted the Kayumanggi taxi parked in front of the Arellano University, minus the driver. After a few minutes, the suspect came out and boarded the taxi, prompting the lawmen to apprehend him.

The police also recovered from the vehicle’s compartment a magazine which the victim identified as hers.

During interrogation, the suspect’s wife voluntarily surrendered the victim’s shoulder bag containing an empty wallet, a green skirt, a Bible, a magazine and a ballpen engraved with the victim’s name.

Reyes is calling on all other victims to come to the WPD headquarters to identify the suspect so that additional charges could be filed against the suspect.