Jeepney passengers disarm, beat up 2 robbers

Two suspected robbers were disarmed and beaten black and blue by five men they robbed in a passenger jeepney in Pasig City yesterday.

Suspects, Rafael Encalada, 32, and Ranel Casamiento, 26, both residents of Bliss compound in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, were saved from further harm due to the timely arrival of responding barangay officials.

Armed with a .38 caliber revolver and a fan knife, the two suspects held up their five fellow passengers near the corner of Shaw Boulevard and Meralco Avenue in Barangay Kapitolyo at about 4:30 a.m. yesterday. The jeepney was bound for Antipolo City.

The suspects took the cell phones and wallets from victims Jae Christian dela Cruz, Aldrin Castillo, Michael Balili, Estanislao Pinlac and Tristan Lacsamana.

However, Dela Cruz  suddenly grabbed the handgun from Encalada while other passengers ganged up on Casamiento and took away his fan knife. The five victims then took turns beating up the suspects.

Responding barangay officials intervened and turned over the two suspects to the Pasig City police. The suspects denied that they robbed the five passengers, saying the latter were drunk.

The five victims turned over the handgun and fan knife to the local police. The two suspects are detained at the Pasig City police headquarters while robbery charges are being readied against them.