‘Ipit taxi’ gang robs chemist

Two men, allegedly members of the “Ipit taxi” gang, robbed a woman of P150,000 as she was on her way home in a taxicab in Pasig City Friday night.

The taxicab Zenaida dela Cruz, 43, who works as a chemist for food firm Universal Robina Corp., had boarded was traversing Katipunan Avenue Extension at around 10:30 p.m. when two men suddenly boarded the vehicle, one on either side of her.

Dela Cruz said the men threatened to harm her if she did not hand over her jewelry and handbag, which contained her wallet and cell phone.

Not content with what was in her bag, the robbers ordered her to withdraw all the money in her bank account at an automated teller machine along Agham Road in Quezon City.

After getting all her valuables and cash, Dela Cruz said the men made her get out of the vehicle along the same road.

Police investigators said Dela Cruz hailed the taxicab at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Pasig. She was able to get help from a passing motorist who drove her to the Pasig City police station to file her complaint.

Dela Cruz said she was unable to take note of the taxicab’s license plate or the name of its operator. – Rainier Allan Ronda