Jeepney driver, teen helped rob passengers

A jeepney driver and his teenage companion were arrested for allegedly helping robbers who victimized passengers in Quezon City last weekend.

Jonathan Quejado, 26, and a 14-year-old boy are facing charges of robbery after they were arrested when the robbers escaped.

A report from the Quezon City Police District-Station 6 stated the incident happened at around 8:30 a.m. on Saturday along Commonwealth Avenue.

Police Officer 3 Alden Lasam said the jeepney driven by Quejado was plying the SM Fairview to Cubao route when seven men boarded the vehicle as passengers at the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Don Fabian Street.

The suspects immediately pulled out bladed weapons and took the passengers’ money and valuables. However, a police patrol car was across the street and policemen noticed what was happening inside the moving jeepney.

The policemen approached the jeepney, prompting the seven men to get out of the vehicle and run towards nearby alleys.

After the suspects had fled, policemen talked with the victims and during the course of information gathering, they found the handbag and cellular phone of two of the passengers in Quejado’s possession.

The police also recovered from Quejado and his teenage companion a bladed weapon believed to have been used by the suspects in robbing the passengers. 

According to Lasam, the passengers believed the jeepney driver intentionally stopped and let the seven robbers board the vehicle at that portion of Commonwealth Avenue, which has alleys that robbers reportedly use as escape routes. – Reinir Padua