Quezon City cops nab 2 more taxicab robbers

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) arrested two men who are allegedly part of a group behind bag-snatchings by men driving stolen taxicabs in various parts of Metro Manila.

Superintendent Jesus Balingasa, commander of the QCPD Station 10, said Alfie Malabasco allegedly stole an El Pueblo taxicab (TYR-473) at the corner of Edsa and Timog Avenue last Wednesday and used the same vehicle to snatch the bag of Kristine Lopez in an area near ABS-CBN’s office.

However, Malabasco was caught at his residence in Taguig City after Lopez identified him through a driver’s license he left behind when he was accosted in Pampanga for driving a stolen taxicab, whose markings had been erased but bore yellow plates. He escaped by saying he had to make a phone call.

Balingasa also said Malabasco named an area in Mexico, Pampanga, where the El Pueblo taxicab was recovered. Malabasco then told police about Lito Antonio, an alleged cohort, who was arrested in Bamban, Tarlac.

The suspects’ arrest followed the capture of their alleged cohort, Joey Grajo, who reportedly tried to snatch the bag of a woman walking along Matalino street. The woman held on to her bag for three blocks, until other cab drivers came to her aid and helped arrest him.

Balingasa said that after the story on Grajo’s arrest came out in The STAR earlier this week, six victims – including the woman who foiled Grajo and the lady who was the latest to be victimized by Malabasco –have come forward to file charges against the suspects.   – Reinir Padua