Man arrested for jeepney rob try

MANILA, Philippines — A man who tried to rob a jeepney driver was arrested following a standoff with police in Sta. Mesa, Manila on Friday.

Felix Brillante Babon, 27, was a passenger of Teofilo Mendoza Mateo, 42, as the jeepney driver was plying the Bacood-Quiapo route.

As the jeepney was traversing Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard at around 4:40 p.m., Babon sat behind Mateo and, at knifepoint, tried to rob him, according to a report by Manila Police District (MPD) spokesman Maj. Philipp Ines.

Mateo stopped the jeepney in front of a supermarket, jumped out and shouted for help from a policeman at the MPD’s Plaza Avelino precinct, located across the street from the supermarket.

Around 10 police officers, some bearing wooden batons and shields, were seen in a viral video surrounding the jeepney and trying to accost Babon. The video was posted on Facebook by Randolf Alvarez Nadado.   

Babon managed to get out of the vehicle and allegedly attack a policeman, identified only as Cpl. Penetrante, who shot the suspect in the leg, the MPD reported. 

Police recovered from Babon a knife, P200 cash and a coin purse that contained P250.  

Babon, a resident of Antipolo City, was reported to be a member of the Sputnik criminal gang and was previously charged with robbery in his hometown.

The MPD is set to charge him with two counts of robbery, illegal possession of bladed weapon and direct assault.