PUP student grabs robber's gun, foils jeepney heist

MANILA, Philippines - It was like David versus Goliath in Caloocan City on Friday when an 18-year-old student foiled a jeepney robbery by grabbing the gun of a robber.

"I did it because of Adrenalin rush," said Jonathan Tacorda, 18, in an interview with the STAR.

Inspector Edsel Ibasco, chief investigator of the Northern Police District (NPD), said that Tacorda, a student of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, was texting inside a Navotas-bound jeepney going to his classmate's house when suspect Emerson Camba, 32, boarded the vehicle on 4th Avenue and sat in front of him about 10 a.m..

Tacorda continued to use his Samsung Pocket cellular phone despite Camba's presence, saying he was "unaware" of the suspect's intention.

"After 10 minutes, (Camba) told the jeepney driver to stop the vehicle and declared a heist. Camba grabbed my bag, aimed his gun at me and said: 'This is a hold up. Give me your cellular phone.'" Tacorda recalled in his statement

Tacorda refused to give up his phone and grabbed Camba's gun through its barrel instead. Camba, who was drunk, pulled Tacorda out of the vehicle until they fell on the street.

The robber tried to pull the trigger but his face towel got stuck in his .38 caliber revolver - causing the gun to jam while enabling Tacorda to grab his arms.

When the student successfully grabbed the gun, Camba ran away and tripped over. Concerned citizens approached the suspect and beat him. Fireman Aldfredo Fernandez saw the commotion and arrested Camba.

At the police station, cops advised Tacorda in jest: "Don't text in public."

Police Officer 1 Richard Canlas of NPD's investigation unit said Camba was charged with frustrated robbery because the act "was not consummated," illegal possession of firearms, and violation of the Commission on Elections Omnibus Election Code.