117 helps nab robbers

A woman recovered her cash and valuables she lost to two robbers inside an FX taxi after she did the right thing — report the crime to 117.

Suspected robbers Benjamin Ariba Jr., driver of the FX, and his cohort Marlon Dacanay were caught in possession of the belongings of their victim.

They were charged with robbery before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.

In a report to Interior and Local Government Secretary and 117 chairman Angelo Reyes, Central Police District Police Station 10 chief Superintendent Alfred Corpus said the suspects were arrested on Tomas Morato Avenue after a brief chase by PO3 Erlindo Orosco and PO1 Eugenio Naganag.

Victim Chermaine Muro told probers that she was riding an FX bound for Manila when the suspects announced the heist along E. Rodriguez in Quezon City last Saturday.

After taking her valuables, the robbers ordered Muro to alight from the vehicles. They then sped off toward España.

Instinctively, Muro made a phone call to hotline 117, which was received by Corpus. The officer immediately informed Orosco and Naganag, then on routine patrol on E. Rodriguez area.

The lawmen gave chase to the robbers, who were cornered on Tomas Morato Avenue, where they were arrested. When frisked, police recovered the victim’s shoulder bag containing her wallet, identification cards and cash.

Reyes appealed to the public to use 117 in reporting crimes. The hotline is an anti-crime and development program of the DILG, the Philippine National Police and Foundation for Crime Prevention. – Cecille Suerte Felipe