Ex-cop nabbed for robbing foreigners in Manila

MANILA, Philippines - Another dismissed policeman accused of robbing foreigners in Malate was arrested by the Manila Police District (MPD) at his house in Mandaluyong on Monday night.

Former Police Officer 1 Eduardo Cayabyab’s arrest stemmed from a robbery complaint filed by a Korean tourist earlier that day, exactly a year after a New Zealand man filed a complaint against him for the same offense.

Cayabyab was assigned to MPD’s mobile patrol unit.

According to victim Young Doo Kim, he had just withdrawn money from an ATM booth when Cayabyab and an accomplice dragged him into a gray Mitsubishi Adventure without license plates.

The cops took P1,000 from Young, who asked them to release him. Cayabyab and his companion refused and, as they passed by a police station, rolled the windows down and told a police officer on duty, “Arbor ko na ito (He is in my custody).”

Young told investigators they arrived at a checkpoint but did not stop, prompting Police Officer 2 Allan de Leon of MPD Station 5 to shoot the car’s tires.

As Cayabyab continued to drive away, they crashed into a taxi driven by Jackie Villamor. This prompted them to dump Young on the road before escaping.

The suspect again crashed into another taxi, driven by Raul Arichaval, who tried to chase the suspects but failed.

Last month, former Police Officer 1 Reggie Dominguez was also arrested in his house in Manila. Like Cayabyab, Dominguez also dragged his victims – mostly foreigners – into a car and robbed them, investigators said.