Cabbie fights off 3 teen robbers

MANILA, Philippines - Three teenage boys were arrested after the taxi driver they allegedly attempted to rob at knifepoint fought them, catching the attention of watchmen patrolling Barangay Bayanihan in Quezon City before dawn yesterday.

Taxi driver Ferdinand Florentino sustained cuts in his hands after he grappled for the possession of the kitchen knife that one of the suspects used to threaten him.

He said he managed to get hold of the knife and scare off the three boys, who tried to escape.

Superintendent Oscar Palisoc, commander of the Quezon City Police District-Station 8, said one of the suspects is 17 years old while the two others were 16 years old. All are residents of Barangay Escopa III in Quezon City.

“However, when they reached the foot of the Katipunan flyover near Boni Serrano Avenue, the three boys asked to be brought back and told the driver to take the U-turn,” Palisoc said.

Palisoc said village watchmen arrested the three suspects and recovered Florentino’s earnings from them, as well as a sachet of marijuana.

He said three teenagers will be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.      – Reinir Padua