‘Robber’ cabbie leads cops on car chase

MANILA, Philippines — A taxi driver accused of robbing two of his passengers, including an American, was arrested in Taguig City on Thursday.

Abel Rodriguez, 38, was arrested by police during a chase that started in Barangay UP Campus in Quezon City and ended at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

Probers said Rodriguez had robbed his passenger, online seller Jinky Caceres, 37, along C.P Garcia street at around 1:35 a.m.

The suspect allegedly pulled out a handgun and stole Caceres’ cell phone worth P15,000, a shoulder bag priced at P8,000 and P3,000 in cash.

The suspect then dropped Caceres off along the street and fled toward Katipunan Avenue. The victim sought assistance from police officers patrolling the area.

Rodriguez was later cornered in Taguig and placed under arrest. Police confiscated a .38 caliber handgun, 55 bullets for an M-16 rifle and his loot from the suspect.

Investigators alleged that Rodriguez was the same person who robbed American Brian Mitchell, 30, in Quezon City on March 27.

Mitchell boarded the suspect’s taxi from the club in BGC and asked to be brought in front of ABS-CBN along Mother Ignacia street in Barangay South Triangle.

While inside the taxi, Thomas fell asleep. The suspect woke him up upon reaching ABS-CBN at around 4:18 a.m.

He went to a fastfood restaurant to buy food when he discovered that his iPhone worth P64,000, diamond necklace valued at P150,000 and P2,000 in cash were missing.

Charges of robbery, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition and violation of the election-related gun ban are being prepared against the suspect.

Taxi driver, barker held

Meanwhile, a taxi driver and a barker were arrested by security personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) yesterday for overcharging and attempting to rob three newly arrived French citizens.

In a complaint filed with the NAIA’s airport police department, Arthur Jules Leblanc, Clara Dominique Villenueve and Mamon Alice Marie Lauder alleged that taxi driver Johnny Bungulan, 34, brandished a weapon and told them to pay $200 fare from NAIA to Malate, Manila or he would rob them.

Bungulan, who is not accredited to pick up passengers at the airport, and barker Mark Anthony Superable, 31, were  arrested near NAIA-3, airport police chief Col. Adrian Tecson said.  – Rudy Santos