10 AUV taxi rob suspects caught

MANILA, Philippines - Ten people accused of robbing female passengers of Asian utility vehicles used as taxis were arrested by Parañaque police officers yesterday.

Four of the suspects were arrested as they traversed Dr. A. Santos Avenue in a fake FX taxi (UTZ-786) at around 1 a.m. yesterday. The vehicle attracted the police officers’ attention because of its tinted windows and unrecognizable license plate – features that public utility vehicles are not allowed to have.

Rather than stopping the vehicle, driver Ludy Dagupioso, 58, sped away until the police caught them along Sucat Avenue. Chief Inspector Fergen Torred identified the other suspects as fake passengers Red Marlon Guarino, 23; Ritchie Cahinta, 38 and Princess Losa, 20.

Police officers found a grenade, two .38 caliber revolvers, cell phones and ATM cards in various names in the van.

When police officers subjected the four suspects to tactical interrogation, Torred said they gave information that led to the arrest of other suspects: Almario Rentillosa, 40, ; Luiz Bondoc, 39; Arvin Manal, 24; Janice Brillatica, 28; Jonnalyn Sarmiento, 20; and Ronelyn Consorte, 20.

Eleven victims went to the Parañaque police headquarters and identified the suspects as the ones who robbed them. Some of the victims alleged that the male suspects also molested them. – Aie Balagtas See, Mike Frialde