Makati cops arrest cab driver for robbing passengers

MANILA, Philippines — Makati City police officers arrested a taxi cab driver for allegedly robbing his two passengers from Cebu early Wednesday.

Makati City Police chief Senior Superintendent Ernesto Barlam identified the nabbed cabbie as Rogelio Valencia.

Initial investigation by Makati's Station Detective and Investigation Management Branch indicated that alleged victims Edgardo Siton and his wife Godeliva boarded Valencia's "Inah" cab with plate UWB-711 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 at about 4:10 am after arriving from Cebu.

Police said the couple instructed Valencia to bring them to an address in Sampaloc, Manila.

While the cab was moving, Valencia allegedly told the couple that he would not be using the meter and would just charge a fixed fare, police said.

The couple did not agree and demanded that the cab stop and they would just get off.

When the cab reached Arellano St. in Barangay Palanan in Makati, however, Valencia allegedly whipped-out a knife and declared the robbery, police added.

The couple resisted the robbery and the commotion inside the cab attracted the attention of some bystanders who came to the couple's rescue.

Responding police officers and barangay watchmen later arrested Valencia who was brought to the Makati Police headquarters where a complaint for robbery is now being readied against him.