Motorcycle-for-hire driver shot by own passenger

A motorcycle-for-hire driver landed in the hospital after the passenger he was ferrying to a mountain barangay shot him and stole his motorcycle last Saturday evening in barangay Pulangbato, Cebu City

Police investigators from Talamban police station identified the victim as Ruben Legaria, 27, of sitio Common, barangay Bacayan, a motorcycle-for-hire driver who plies the rough roads towards the mountain barangays of Cebu City and Mandaue City.

The victim told PO1 Allan Macatangay of the Talamban police that he picked up the passenger in barangay Canduman, Mandaue City, and was asked to bring him to barangay Pulangbato.

Upon reaching the vicinity of Bactus Firing Range in Pulangbato, the passenger reportedly ordered him to stop. Thinking that they have arrived at his destination, he let the passenger disembark.

But he was surprised when the passenger pulled out a handgun and announced a hold-up, before he could react the passenger shot him in the nape.

The victim fell to the ground while the suspect commandeered his motorcycle and sped away.

Residents in the area who heard the shot discovered him bloodied and brought him to the North General Hospital.

The police tried to set up roadblocks in the possible exits around the area but failed to catch the robber. - Edwin Ian Melecio