Man held for killing cabbie

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested a 20-year-old man for stabbing to death a taxi driver who fought off his robbery attempt in San Juan City shortly after midnight yesterday.

Erick Balon, of Sta. Mesa, Manila, was beaten up by bystanders who cornered him after he killed Pedro Yepes, 45.

Balon flagged down the victim’s taxi in Cubao, Quezon City and asked the latter to take him to San Juan, said city police chief Senior Superintendent Joselito Daniel.

However, when the taxi reached a dimly-lighted mini park in Barangay Pedro Cruz at 12:15 a.m., Balon pulled out a fan knife and declared the heist.

Instead of handing over his day’s earnings and valuables, Yepes fought back and a scuffle for possession of the bladed weapon ensued, police said.

The suspect managed to stab Yepes at the height the scuffle.

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.