MANILA, Philippines - Two taxis were taken from their drivers by carjackers in two separate heists in Makati and Quezon City yesterday.
Makati City police officer-in-charge Superintendent Jaime Santos said the Alprekenn taxi (UVN-575) was taken at gunpoint by three men from driver Evaristo Bastasos, 42, at about 1:15 a.m.
Bastasos told police he had just picked up the carjackers along Kalayaan Avenue in Barangay Cembo when they pulled out guns and ordered him to get out of the car.
In Quezon City, cabbie Teodoro Galleno, 49, said he was on his way to E. Rodriguez Sr. Boulevard when a man flagged him down along Monte de Piedad street in Cubao before dawn yesterday. When the passenger entered his vehicle, Galleno said the man suddenly pulled out a gun and told him to get out. Galleno said when he alighted from the cab, two other men appeared and boarded his vehicle.
Galleno’s vehicle, a Hyundai Accent (UVP-142), is registered to Peter Uy. The victim said he left his cell phone and wallet in the taxi.
SPO1 Honey Besas said another taxi near the area where Galleno was attacked was abandoned after it figured in a collision. Besas said the carjackers may have abandoned the taxi after the mishap and hailed Galleno’s cab.
At about 10:45 p.m. on Sept. 17, another taxi marked Slendor of Siquijor (TYX-884) was taken at gunpoint by two men from its driver along the Osmeña Highway near Gil Puyat Avenue. One of the suspects, identified as Fernando Maratas, was later arrested by police.
Also on Sept. 17, five carjackers armed with handguns took a sport utility vehicle from a lawyer in Makati’s Barangay Pio del Pilar.
A report from the Southern Police District (SPD) said lawyer Daiza Anne Ong, 28, was driving her dark blue Toyota Fortuner (ZMR-243) home when the carjackers cut into her path along Mayor street.
The SPD has ordered its teams to look for the stolen car.