Pvt. Richard Bryan Esconda and Pfc. Randy Avenido, both 22, are now detained at a Makati Police Department cell and face possible criminal charges for the death of Roberto Yabut, 57, of Sampaloc, Manila.
The victim, the driver of a white Ken-Nol taxi with license plate TWX-742, sustained a single gunshot wound in the head.
The suspects, both military policemen of the Army’s 191st Battalion, allegedly killed him inside his cab while it was on the Buendia flyover at around 11:30 p.m.
Senior Inspector Gary Reyes, chief of the MPD’s Homicide Division, said another taxi driver, identified as Nador Abucay, witnessed how the victim’s taxi went over the lane divider and screeched to a halt.
The two suspects allegedly got off the stalled taxi and even tried to flag down his own cab, but he ignored them since he saw one of the suspects with tucked firearm.
The witness sped off, but immediately reported the incident to the nearest MAPSA station along Kalayaan Avenue. A team was then dispatched to the scene.
Inside the taxi, Yabut was found dead with a gunshot wound in the right temple. The fatal shot reportedly came from a .9mm pistol.
Investigators found a wallet in the back seat of the taxi with Esconda’s military identification cards, driver’s license, and his photo.
Reyes said he and his men conducted follow-up operations and eventually arrested Esconda at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig at around 7 a.m.
He said Avenido surrendered to authorities a few hours later.
Reyes said they have yet to determine the real motive behind the shooting, but said both military men will be charged with homicide.
"We don’t know yet if it was a hold-up, we are still trying to find out," he said. He said one of the suspects admitted shooting the victim but denied they attempted to rob him.
Police reports said the suspect, without any provocation, went on a stabbing spree near the Balintawak market, killing two market porters identified as Jun Fajardo and a certain Boy.
Roger de la Cruz, an MMDA traffic enforcer, said he sought the help of bystanders in pursuing the suspect who was running toward the Cloverleaf overpass after the stabbing incident.
De La Cruz said several men chased the suspect and cornered him several meters from the overpass. The suspect was turned over to the nearest police station in the area.
Police investigators are still determining the motive for the killing. – With Perseus Echeminada