Man arrested for robbing cab driver

An 18-year-old man was arrested Saturday night along B. Rodriguez street after he stabbed a taxi driver in a foiled robbery attempt.

Bernabe Cutanag of Paknaan, Mandaue City is now detained at the stockade of the Cebu City Police Office, while his victim Marcelo Traya, 50, of Toledo City, the driver of NJM taxi with plate number GVR 180, is now confined at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

Initial investigation revealed that Cutanag hailed Traya's taxi in Paknaan and ordered Traya to bring him to B. Rodriguez street. Upon reaching the area, the suspect pulled out a knife and declared a holdup.

Later in an interview with The FREEMAN, Cutanag said that he wounded Traya in the neck when the latter grappled for possession of the knife and later shouted for help eventually catching the attention of security guard Maximo Casipong stationed at the gate of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

Cutanag said he surrendered to Casipong immediately when he saw the guard pointing his service shotgun at him.

An elementary graduate, Cutanag who is the 12th child in a brood of 13 siblings said he badly needed money to complete the requirements of his job application.

He has been jobless for a year after his contract at a printing press ended. He was employed as a clipper. He depends on his sister for his basic needs.

Last Saturday, he said he asked for money from his sister but was reportedly refused.