Woman hurt in botched taxi heist

MANILA, Philippines - A 32-year-old woman was stabbed twice in a taxi during a botched robbery along Osmeña Highway in Makati City before dawn yesterday.

Elaine Quiambao, a resident of Imus, Cavite, sustained stab wounds in her shoulder and upper back, according to Makati police chief Senior Superintendent Ernesto Barlam.

At around 1:30 a.m., Quiambao was riding in the back seat of a Gaudencio y De Guzman taxi (UVB-805) driven by Ponciano Libunao, 32, when Libunao’s accomplice emerged from his hiding place at the front seat as the vehicle – a Nissan Sentra – reached the corner of Malugay street.

The accomplice – later identified as Ron Jurvy Turla, 21 – had hidden himself using a blanket, investigators said.

Turla tried to rob Quiambao at knifepoint, but the woman resisted, prompting the suspect to stab her. Though wounded, she managed to open the taxi door and jump out of the running vehicle.

The commotion caught the attention of two Makati Public Safety Authority officers in the area. The two officers caught up with the taxi as it crashed into a sidewalk gutter and arrested Libunao. A homemade .38 caliber revolver, with one bullet, and a fan knife were seized from the taxi driver.

Investigators said Turla was arrested as he ran toward the parking area of the nearby Cash and Carry mall.

The two men, who are being held at the Makati police station, face charges of illegal possession of firearms and illegal possession of a bladed weapon.

Quiambao was taken to the Makati Medical Center for emergency treatment.