Cabbie dies after fighting off robber

MANILA, Philippines - A taxi driver died yesterday after he tried to fight off a passenger who robbed him of his day’s earnings along Quirino Avenue in Ermita, Manila.

Barangay 709 Zone 78 watchman Silvestre Perucho said he was on patrol when he noticed the driver of a King Darwin taxi struggling with his passenger at past 3 a.m.

When he approached the cab, he said he saw Jose Bautista, 54, had been stabbed in the chest while the passenger jumped out of the taxi, holding a bladed weapon, and ran toward an alley off Leveriza street.

Perucho said he brought Bautista to the Ospital ng Maynila but the victim was declared dead on arrival.