Cabbie flees, foils robbery try

MANILA, Philippines – Police arrested two men and a 15-year-old boy for robbery before dawn Thursday, catching them with a stolen taxi none of them knew how to drive.

Quezon City Police District-Station 9 chief Superintendent Oscar Palisoc said suspects Andrew Luis Hayag, 20; Kenneth Santiago, 19; and the boy boarded the taxi driven by cabbie Romulo Teves along Aurora Boulevard and asked him to bring them to Commonwealth Avenue.

As the vehicle was traveling along Kalayaan Avenue, the taxi developed a minor engine problem that forced Teves to drive slowly.

As the vehicle reached the corner of Kalayaan Avenue and Anonas Road in Barangay Sikatuna, one of the suspects drew out a bladed weapon and declared a heist.

Teves, however, got out of the taxi and ran away, seeking the assistance of patrolling village watchmen and police officers.

“The suspects didn’t know how to drive the taxicab and they were not able to leave the area. Because of that, the responding authorities were able to catch up with them,” Palisoc said.

Hayag and Santiago have undergone inquest proceedings on robbery charges.

Authorities recovered from the suspects a cutter and Teves’ belongings, including P1,900, his driver’s license and other identification cards, Palisoc said.

Palisoc said the suspects had thrown away the taxi’s keys. Teves had to contact his operator to be able to drive the vehicle after the suspects were arrested.