Taxi driver shot in daring heist

CEBU, Philippines - A taxi driver was shot early dawn yesterday by two men who robbed him at the Cebu South Coastal Road in sitio San Rafael, barangay San Roque Talisay City.

Jimmy Bacaro, 49, a taxi driver of Trell Ros Taxi from Subangdaku, Mandue City sustained a gunshot wound on his left jaw following a robbery around 2a.m. yesterday.

SPO1 Mikie Espina of the Talisay City Police Station told The FREEMAN that two of the three suspects, who were later identified as Lexter Louie Macachor, 19, and Ariel Padin, 18, both from barangay Tanke of the same city, reportedly positioned themselves at the center island which prompted the taxi to stop. (The third suspect, who served as a lookout, remains unknown as of press time.)

When the cab stopped, one of the suspects reportedly approached the driver's seat and declared a holdup which shocked Bacaro's passengers, Junior and Cristita Cuedro who were both seated at the back seat. 

When the three assailants successfully divested Bacaro's earnings of P3,250 and some cash from the couple, Bacaro reportedly tried to flee by revving the car which then prompted one of the suspects to shoot him using a firearm of still unknown caliber.  

The bullet entered Bacaro's left jaw near his ear and exited his face. The suspects immediately fled the scene when the Cuedros called for help.

Paramedics of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation rushed the victim to the Cebu City Medical Center. He was later transferred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

Espina said that immediately after the incident, they conducted a hot pursuit operation which lasted until yesterday afternoon.

"Amo gyud ni sila gi-atngan hangtod naghapon nalang, apan wala gyud sila mi-uli," he said.

Espina said that Macachor had just come out from jail for the same crime. He described the suspects as the "new breed of robbers."

"Mga bag-ong tubo ni sila nga mga tulisan," he said. -  LGC