Teenage lovers kill taxi driver in San Juan

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested a teenage couple after they stabbed dead a taxi driver in San Juan City Monday night.

Mohammad Ali Baropi and his girlfriend, Claire Gallego, both 18, admitted killing Emmanuel Moran Jr., 57. Baropi said Moran allegedly molested his girlfriend. Police Officer 2 Alexander de Dumo said Moran’s neck was almost cut off. 

Gallego claimed she and Moran were textmates. She said she and Baropi were on a date at a mall in Pasig City when she decided to send a text message to Moran, requesting him to fetch them. Gallego seated herself in front while Baropi took the back seat.

While on their trip to Barangay West Crame, Baropi said Moran started molesting Gallego and, out of jealousy, he pulled out a fan knife and attacked the driver.

A roving security guard, Genefred Caram, discovered the bloodied Moran inside a Nissan X-Trail parked along Eisenhower street in Greenhills at about 11 p.m.

Caram said Baropi and Gallego were running away from the vehicle, prompting him to give chase and shout for help. Barangay watchman Rommel Banigued joined the chase and they cornered the two teenagers, who yielded two fan knives.

San Juan police chief Senior Superintendent Procopio Lipana ordered a deeper investigation of Moran’s death. Baropi and Gallego are currently detained at the San Juan City police detention center while charges of murder are being readied against them.