Taxi carjack suspect hits car, robs owner

MANILA, Philippines - A carjack suspect who reportedly robbed the owner of a car he sideswiped while escaping was arrested in a follow-up operation Saturday in Navotas City.

Police Officer 2 Marcus Cuyme, Navotas City police station desk officer, identified the suspect as Edwin Fuentes, 26, a resident of Barangay North Bay Boulevard South (NBBS).

Cuyme said Roger Travo, 31, was driving his white Polland Transport taxi (PVE-974) along C-3 Road in Barangay NBBS when Fuentes flagged him down at around 2:15 p.m. Friday.

Travo stopped and opened his cab’s door for the passenger but was surprised when Fuentes allegedly declared a heist. Travo said Fuentes held a knife and tried to grab him as he jumped out of the taxi.

Police said Fuentes drove away with Travo’s taxicab but in his haste to escape, sideswiped a blue Nissan Sentra (UCX-952) of Maureen Gregorio, 26, also a resident of Barangay NBBS.

Gregorio alighted from her car and confronted Fuentes, who also got out of the taxi. During their argument, Fuentes allegedly drew his knife and took Gregorio’s cell phone. The suspect fled on foot towards a squatters’ colony in the area.

Gregorio sought the assistance of Inspector Roy Juan Padro, Police Community Precinct-4 commander, and Police Officer 1 Jose Gumilan.

At around 7:30 a.m. the following day, the police officers, accompanied by Gregorio, chanced upon the suspect along C-3 Road.

While undergoing investigation, another taxi driver, Byana Gal, 27, a resident of Quezon City, showed up at the police station to report that at around 3:30 a.m. he was also held up by two armed men who flagged him down on C-3 Road.

“When he saw Fuentes, Gal immediately identified him as one of the two men who held him up,” Cuyme told The STAR.

Cuyme said charges of carjacking, reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property and two counts of robbery will be filed against Fuentes before the Navotas City prosecutor’s office.