Cops nab taxi driver, accomplice in hotel employee kidnap

MANILA, Philippines - Police officers from Makati City and Quezon nabbed a taxi driver who robbed and abducted on Sunday night a woman employee of the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City.

Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) regional police director Benito Estipona said taxi driver  Eduardo Sarabosing, 34, of Brgy. Caigdal, Unisan, Quezon  was nabbed. Sarabosing's accomplice, identified as Sam Aumentado was also captured. At about 6 a.m. Tuesday, Aumentado was arrested by Las Piñas City and Makati City police officers in Brgy. Talon Dos, Las Piñas City.

According to police, the victim boarded a white “Ponkan” taxi (TXD-899) driven by Sarabosing near the hotel at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday.

When the taxi reached the corner of EDSA and Buendia Avenue, the taxi stopped, and Aumentado, 39,  of  Brgy Talon Dos, Las Piñas City   emerged from inside the trunk of the taxi and joined the victim inside the cab. 

Aumentado, police said, then pointed a knife at the victim and demanded P20,000.

The victim however said that she did not have P20,000 with her and instead gave Aumentado her two BPI atm cards. Aumentado then forced the victim to withdraw cash somewhere in Laguna.

Police said the victim was not allowed to get off the cab and was instead brought to a house in Barangay Pag-Aguasan in Unisan town in Quezon. Police said the victim was molested by Aumentado along the way.

According to Police, Aumentado left the victim at the house with Sarabosing. On Tuesday morning, police said the victim escaped at about 4 pm on Monday when Sarabosing fell asleep.

The victim then sought the help of barangay kagawads who alerted local police and arrested Sarabosing.

On Tuesday afternoon, Makati Policemen led by Senior Inspector Ferdinand Satorre arrived in Unisan to fetch the victim and take custody of Sarabosing. The Makati Police are still tracking down Aumentado.