Cabbie nabbed for raping DLSU student

MANILA, Philippines - A taxi driver, wanted for raping a student, was arrested yesterday by intelligence officers of the Manila Police District.

The 19-year-old student from De La Salle University in Manila identified the photo of Miguel Maranan, 31, as one of two men who attacked her.

Maranan was nabbed outside his house in Upper Bicutan, Taguig at about 7 a.m. after returning his cab to taxi firm Naning’s car barn. He did not resist arrest.

In an interview with The STAR, Maranan admitted to molesting and robbing the girl, but denied raping her. “I needed the money, but I did not use her,” he said in Filipino.

According to a source, the girl hailed Maranan’s cab (a Hyundai Accent with license plate UVB-953) outside a bar in Fort Bonifacio on Nov. 29. 

She boarded the vehicle without knowing that Maranan’s accomplice, identified only as Jeff, was hiding in the front passenger seat.

The girl instructed Maranan to take her to a condominium on Taft Avenue but he drove the taxi to a motel in Las Piñas City, where he and Jeff raped her for 10 hours.

While in the taxi, Jeff threatened and held the student at knifepoint. At the hotel, the student pleaded with her attackers to release her as Jeff threatened to kill her.

Maranan and Jeff then took the girl’s mobile phone and bag and asked for P6,000.

The MPD called on other passengers Maranan may have victimized to file charges.