Another robbed at gunpoint: Taxi driver found dead in Mandaue

CEBU, Philippines - A taxi driver was found dead inside his unit parked along the road in sitio Sambag, Barangay Tabok in Mandaue City dawn last Sunday.

Police identified the fatality as Pableo Cañete, 29, a native of San Remigio, but a temporary resident of Barangay Tabok. He has been a taxi driver for the past two years.

PO2 Heracleo Gamboa of the Basak Police Station said it was another taxi driver, James Jayme, 21, who found Cañete around 1 a.m. last Sunday.

Jayme had parked his taxi behind Cañete’s and tried to wake Cañete up, only to find out that the latter was no longer breathing and moving. He immediately rushed Cañete to the Cortes General Hospital, but to no avail.

Gamboa said no wound was found on Cañete’s body. Cañete’s parents also told Gamboa that their son had been suffering from a heart ailment. The parents are reportedly convinced that there was no foul play in their son’s death. They also do not want his body to undergo an autopsy.

Meanwhile, evening on the same day, two young men pretending to be passengers robbed a taxi driver at gunpoint also in Mandaue City.

Bernabe Yhapon, 29, a resident of Cebu City, lost his earnings worth P2,800 and mobile phone worth P8,000 to the suspects.

He told the police that the suspects flagged his taxi down at M.C. Briones Street in Barangay Tabok, Mandaue City and asked that they be brought to Barangay Pusok in Lapu-Lapu City.

Yhapon described the two suspects as being in their 20’s.

However, when they reached the foot of the Marcelo Fernan Bridge in Mandaue City, one of the two declared a hold-up as the other pointed a gun at him. The suspects then demanded for his earnings and mobile phone and ordered him to disembark the vehicle.

The suspects then drove the car and sped toward Lapu-Lapu City. /JMO (FREEMAN)