Cabbies help cops arrest robbers

CEBU, Philippines - Operatives of the Mandaue City Police Station, with the help of a group of taxicab drivers, arrested early yesterday morning two men who had allegedly victimized two cabbies in separate incidents.

The two suspected robbers were identified as Robert Villarin, a plumber, and Roldan Tormis, a waiter of an international hotel, all residents of barangay Jagobiao in Mandaue.

Both Villarin and Tormis were arrested by the Mandaue Police after the angry drivers tipped the police authorities that the suspects were about to victimize another Holiday Taxi driver near Maguikay flyover past 1 a.m. yesterday.

Villarin and Tormis were positively identified by two Holiday Taxi drivers as the culprits in the September 11 and 13 robberies along Highway Mandaue near the Maguikay flyover.

The two drivers who positively identified the suspects were Antero Pobadora and George Villagonzalo, also of Holiday Taxi.

Pobadora said he lost P3,000 last September 11 to the robbers, while Villagonzalo lost P1,700 last September 13. Both claimed that they were so enraged by the said act, as the money was part of the rentals, not yet the earnings.

“Sila gyod nang duha ang nagtulis namo,” Villagonzalo told the Subangdaku Police.

It was found out that the suspects used a knife to intimidate the victims.

  “Kun wa pa to masigpati, posibleng mobiktima na sab to ug laing mga drivers. Suwerte nga gipanid-an na sa mga drivers sa Holiday Taxi ug ilang gi-report dayon sa kapolisan,” SPO1 Dindo Montesclaros, desk officer of Subangdaku Police Station, said.

  Both Villarin and Tormis were reportedly mauled by bystanders.

They were transferred to the Casuntingan Police Station and are now facing a case for possession of deadly weapon before the Mandaue City Prosecutor’s Office.

However, Montesclaros said that “makapiyansa ra na sila kay Bilang 6 (possession of deadly weapon) ra man, but i-file gihapon ang robbery case batok nila pero at large na.”

“Maghuwat lang ta kun malutsan sila og warrant of arrest. Ang importante, nailhan nato ang mga tulisan,” he added. — Ramil V. Ayuman/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)