Cabbie slain in rob try

CEBU, Philippines - A taxi driver died after he was stabbed in the head by two men who posed as passengers then later tried to rob him last Wednesday night in Barangay Lahug. One of the suspects is now in critical condition after bystanders mauled while the other was arrested.

Victim Willeno Juntong, 39, was still rushed to the hospital but later died.

The suspects, Jason Abellanosa, 21, and a certain “Roger” who were both arrested, used a shank to stab the victim.

According to the Theft and Robbery Section, Juntong, driver of Pangging Taxi with license plate numbers ZKG-626, was driving in Barangay Lahug when the suspects flagged  him down. They later declared a hold-up and pointed a caliber .38 cal. revolver at him when they reached Peace Valley around 8 p.m.

The victim refused to give up his earnings and ran the vehicle into a corner.

“Gisuwayan nila og pusil ang driver unya wala man kabuto ang ilang armas, gidunggab na lang,” PO1 Jodan Batucan said.

One of the suspects, believed to be Abellanosa, disembarked and repeatedly stabbed the victim in the head and right arm before trying to escape. The other suspect was beaten up by bystanders in the area who were alerted to the commotion by a motorcycle driver. The suspects failed to escape with the victim’s P700.

Juntong was rushed to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center while the mauled suspect was taken to the Cebu City Medical Center. Batucan said Roger is in critical condition due to severe head injuries.

Responding policemen from the Motorcycle Response Unit, PO2s Ferlito Maribao and Michael Samoranos and PO1 Archie Borres caught up with Abellanosa nearby and arrested him.

Recovered from the crime scene was the .38 cal. revolver used by the suspects and the shank used in stabbing the cab driver. The gun actually had no bullets in the chamber.

Around 5 a.m. yesterday, VSMMC doctors declared Juntong dead due to severe brain injury, said Batucan.

Juntong, a native of Looc Norte, Asturias town, left behind five children, the eldest still 12 years old.

He has been a taxi driver for about eight years now, said his employer Tony Marayan. This was the first time someone tried to rob him.

“Hilumon ‘to siya na pagkatawo ug buotan,” Marayan said.

The victim had been driving since 12 p.m. and was about to end his shift at 10 p.m.

Abellanosa, a native of Oslob town, but temporarily residing in Tabunok, Talisay City, denied any involvement in the crime and refused to identify his accomplice.  (FREEMAN)