UP student killed in taxi holdup

A graduating male nursing student of the University of the Philippines-Manila was stabbed dead by four holdup men when he tried to resist a robbery attempt inside a mega taxi in Ermita, Manila Thursday night.

Dead on arrival at the Manila Doctors Hospital was Jim Carlo Calub, 20, of Pilar Village, Las Piñas City. He sustained three stab wounds in the chest.

According to officer-on-case SPO3 Virgo Villareal, the victim boarded an Isuzu Highlander taxi (PYX-539) in Quezon City on his way home past 10 p.m.

The four holdup men boarded the same vehicle at the corner of Padre Faura street along Taft Avenue, with two of the suspects occupying the back portion where the victim was seated. One sat beside the driver while the other sat in the middle section.

Upon reaching the corner of Remedios street, the suspects pulled out their fan knives and announced the holdup. The victim resisted and tried to fight the two suspects beside him when they tried to divest him of his wallet. The commotion prompted the driver, Renato Bumanglad, to stop the vehicle.

As the van screeched to a halt, the victim succeeded in getting out of the taxi, but the four suspects gave chase, cornered him and took turns stabbing him.

The suspects only stopped when Bumanglad took out a lead pipe to assist the victim.

The suspects then scampered toward Remedios street.

Bystanders recovered and turned over to police the victim’s bag and wallet.

Villareal said yesterday he was informed by Senior Superintendent Elmer Jamias, who has police jurisdiction over the Ermita area, that two of the holdupmen were already in his custody.

Villareal said he still has to confirm this, pending positive identification by witnesses.