Cabbie nabbed for extortion

CEBU, Philippines - A taxi driver was arrested Friday after he allegedly extorted money from his passenger in exchange of some personal belongings left inside the cab.

Carlos Capuyan, 44, of Barangay Sac-on, Carmen, Cebu, was arrested by the members of Fuente Police Station along Ramos Street because of the complaint of Maria Rhodessa Aballe, 31, of Barangay Basak-San Nicolas, Cebu City.

Aballe said he hailed Capuyan’s cab from Mabolo to a hotel along F. Ramos last Friday afternoon. Aballe said she left her sling bag containing several important items inside the taxicab.

Through the assistance of the guards of the hotel who were able to record the identity of the cab, Aballe was able to trace the driver. However, Capuyan allegedly demanded P2,000 in exchange of her bag prompting the  victim to seek police assistance.

An entrapment operation was conducted by the members of the Police Station 2 resulting in the arrest of Capuyan.

Aballe, however, refused to file charges against the suspect after she got her bag prompting the police to release Capuyan last Saturday. Chief Inspector David Señor, chief of Station 2, said they would have filed complaints for estafa and coercion against the suspect had the complainant pursued her complaint. (FREEMAN)