Thrill killers targeting cab drivers?

Forensic investigators said yesterday thrill killers could be behind the deaths of two taxi drivers only days apart in Caloocan City.

Superintendent Vladimir Villaseñor, Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) chief, came to this conclusion after the body of yet another taxi driver was found inside his taxi at around 5:20 a.m.

PO3 Joel Aquino, officer on case, identified the victim as Apolinario Mangahas, 60, driver of an Abby-Chelle taxi and a resident of Pugpog, Norzagaray, Bulacan.

Mangahas was found dead along Nadurata street corner 7th Avenue in Grace Park, Caloocan City.

At 5:20 a.m. last Wednesday, Florentino Padilla, 69, driver of an Angel Maui taxi (PWT-197) and resident of Karuhatan, Valenzuela, was also found lifeless slumped on the wheel of his taxi under similar circumstances.

"We have reason to believe that the perpetrators in the two cases could be the same. The suspects employed the same modus operandi," Villaseñor told The STAR yesterday.

From his account, both victims were elderly, in their 60s. Both died of loss of blood due to multiple stab and puncture wounds from knives and ice pick, respectively.

Mangahas sustained 35 wounds, Padilla had 33.

Both were stabbed in the back, neck and chest. Both were found in almost the same place (West Grace Park) and nearly at the same time.

The suspects left the victims without taking anything from them ruling out robbery as motive for the killing.

Villaseñor said that the suspects were youths.

"Mga bata ang tumira dun sa dalawa. Mababaw ang tama dun sa likod kung saan mga buto ang tatamaan. Of the many wounds in the back, only two or three went through and pierced the lungs and heart of the victims. If older, the wounds will be deeper because of stronger force," Villaseñor pointed out.

Of five fatal wounds that went through, two pierced Mangahas’ lungs, one in the neck and two in the chest.

Padilla died of two stab wounds in the lungs, one pierced his heart and two lacerated his liver.

The suspects remain at large and are the subject of a follow up operation, police said.