Quick-thinking driver saves boss from would-be abductors

Cherry Cuen Go, 25, puts her life in driver Johnny Cerbo’s hands everyday, as most chauffeur-driven people do.

But yesterday morning, Cherry Go’s life was literally in the hands of Cerbo, 36, who did not fail her. When Go’s Toyota Previa van with license plates WYU-222 was blocked by a maroon van filled with armed men along Alejo Aquino street in Manila’s Singalong district, Cerbo put the van on reverse and immediately backed up.

Not intimidated by their attackers, who alighted from their maroon Toyota Revo with license plates WCF-113 and brandished long arms and pistols at them, Cerbo made a great escape.

Cerbo’s sudden move surprised the suspects, who fired at the van, hitting Cerbo on the right side of his neck with a caliber .45 bullet.

Although badly wounded and bleeding, Cerbo managed to drive himself and his employer to the Saint Claire’s Hospital in Palanan, Makati.

His quick thinking saved his employer from what authorities suspect was a kidnap attempt.

Detectives from the Western Police District are still tracking down the frustrated kidnappers.

Go reportedly owns the Windtrade Corp. on 2366 Leon Guinto st., not far from where the kidnap try took place. She was on her away to her office at around 9:45 a.m. when the suspects blocked her van.