Cabbie arrested for robbing OFW

MANILA, Philippines - A taxi driver was arrested Friday for allegedly driving off with the belongings of his passenger, an overseas Filipino worker who arrived from Macau, China on Thursday, an official said yesterday.

Capt. Alden Gay, who heads the police intelligence and investigation division at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), said Sarah Kay de Dios of Antipolo City told him that a taxi with plate number TYZ-483 was in line at the NAIA Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) departure area.

De Dios said she boarded the taxi and asked the driver, later identified as Raymond Gomba, to bring her to Antipolo. She said that while on their way to Roxas Boulevard, Gomba told her that she must pay him P200 for every kilometer up to Antipolo. De Dios protested and asked Gomba to stop and let her out near a hotel at the corner of Roxas Boulevard and EDSA.

De Dios said she paid Gomba P500. When she was about to get her belongings from the taxi’s trunk, Gomba sped away.

NAIA police officers arrested Gomba in Quezon City the next day. They recovered De Dios’ trolley bag and clothing but not her money, worth P12,000, Gay said.

Gomba said Gomba – who was charged with robbery before the Pasay prosecutor’s office – may belong to a group of taxi drivers who rob passengers arriving at NAIA terminals at night.