Cabbie arrested for robbing passenger

CEBU, Philippines - A cab driver was arrested two hours after he robbed and allegedly tried to rape his passenger along Don Gervacio Quijada St., Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City, yesterday morning.

Police arrested Ramil Lamoste, 27, driver of Revolution Taxi, after victimizing his own passenger, Mary Frances Dacalos, 23.

PO1 Nemecio Dinopol of the Guadalupe Police Station said the incident happened at 6:30 a.m. yesterday in a quiet area near the victim’s school.

The victim hailed the cab with plate number GWB 911 and body number 0475 at IT Park in Barangay Lahug after eating at a nearby fastfood chain, Dinopol said.

The victim asked to be taken to Guadalupe where she attends a culinary school.

When they reached the place, the victim told the driver to stop but the cab continued to run.

“Ningsaylo sila, wala siya gihunong. Nag-drama-drama ang driver na nadaot daw ang taxi, di daw muhunong. Nihunong na ug kalit diha sa mingaw na dapit,” Dinopol said.

Lamoste reportedly got off the cab, pretending to check what was wrong with the cab, but then went to the back seat where Dacalos was sitting.

He opened the door and threatened her with a screwdriver while declaring a hold-up.

“Gihulga siya na ug ‘musyagit ka, patay ka’,” Dinopol said quoting the victim.

Dacalos handed over her bag which contained her two cellular phones worth P40,000, P400 cash, uniform and Nike shoes, among other items.

After getting the bag, Dinopol said the suspect held the victim’s shoulder and tried to place a shirt over her face.

“Itabon na unta ‘to sa iyang baba tingali unya hing hana ug rape niya,” Dinopol said.

Dacalos struggled and managed to get out of the cab. She shouted for help while Lamoste rushed back to the driver’s seat and sped off.

A man driving a motorcycle passed by the area and saw Dacalos.

The man let Dacalos ride pillion and they tailed the cab. They were able to get its plate number and went to the Guadalupe Police Station.

Police conducted a hot pursuit operation and traced the taxi company’s garage to Barangay Umapad, Mandaue City, just near the suspect’s house.

They arrived past 8 a.m. but did not see the suspect. But a few minutes later the suspect arrived and parked the taxicab inside.

The police appeared and tried to arrest the suspect but the latter tried to escape. He was finally collared inside the garage compound after a brief chase.

The two cellular phones owned by the victim were recovered from his pockets.

The suspect is now detained at the Guadalupe Police Station.

Lamoste, who has a live-in-partner, has been working as a cab driver for just three weeks, Dinopol said. He formerly worked as a jeepney driver.

He would later say he turned to robbery as he needed money to pay the rent.

A charge for robbery will be filed against him today. Dinopol said they are also studying possible charges of attempted rape against the suspect.

Richard Cabucos, president of the Metro Cebu Taxi Operators Association, said they will also conduct their own investigation on the incident and will make the suspect apologize in public.

“Para dili makahig ang ubang taxi driver na mga buotan,” Cabucos said, as he called on the public not to immediately judge all taxi drivers as majority of them are working decently to earn a living. –(FREEMAN)