Alleged killers of taxi driver arrested

CEBU, Philippines - Four members of the street gang called "Crips," three of whom juveniles, have been arrested by the police for their alleged involvement in the killing of a taxi driver last Wednesday dawn in Upper Tingub Road, Mandaue City.

 Barangay Tingub residents found Modesto Geligao, 38, of Pulpogan Consolacion town, already lifeless inside his rented taxi at around 2:30 a.m. that day.

 The Investigation and Detective Management Bureau (IDMB) led by their chief P/Insp. Rami Morpos arrested early yesterday morning the four suspects in their homes.

 A police source said another taxi driver knew one of the four suspects.

 The source said that before the commission of the crime that day, the four suspects were at the house of a fellow gang member who was at that time celebrating his 17th birthday.

 At 2 a.m., the four left the house and waited for a taxi near the corner of Greenhills Subdivision.

 But just as they were about to board a taxi, one of the suspects thought he knew the driver and suggested that they take another taxi.

 Then came Geligao's taxi. 

 The taxi driver who was turned down by the group went to the police to say he had strong suspicions that the group that had flagged down his taxi earlier could have been responsible for the killing of the taxi driver the night before.

 Moving swiftly, the police picked up a gang member and extracted information which led to the arrest of the four members who were together when the crime was committed.

 One of the members admitted having robbed and killed Geligao and that his companions had no participation in the crime.

 He said he had asked them to get off the taxi before he robbed and killed the driver.

 Now that his companions were gone, he alleged that he declared a holdup, collared the driver, and asked for his earnings.

 He claimed that he shot the driver as he was getting off the taxi after taking with him the man's P200 in earnings and his cellular phone.

 The police found some money hidden in the driver's seat.

 The suspect said he lost the driver's cellular phone while crossing the Butuanon River to get back to the house.

 However, SPO1 Arnulfo Quiachon of the IDMB pooh-poohed the alleged gunman's claim that he acted alone.

 Quiachon believes that the crime was planned ahead of time.

 He said that if it was not planned, why did they go back to Tingub when they do not reside in the place?

Charges of robbery with homicide are being prepared against the four suspects. — THE FREEMAN