Cabbie robbed; suspect carjacks vehicle

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A taxi driver was robbed by his own passenger early morning of September 7 in Oton, Iloilo.

Sanny Tamiano, 48, driver of Insoo Taxi and resident of Barangay Tabuc Suba, La Paz, Iloilo City, said the suspect flagged him down around 5:30 a.m. Thursday at Barangay San Rafael, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

The man, who is around 40 years old and stands 5 feet tall, allegedly wanted to be brought to Barangay Cagbang, Oton.

While navigating Barangay Pakiad, Oton, the suspect told Tamiano to take the new road which the latter obeyed.

Shortly later, the suspect pulled a knife and declared a robbery.

Tamiano said the suspect told him that he just wanted the money.

“I told him that if he wants money, I’ll give it to him. I just asked him not to hurt me,” the driver said in vernacular.

He then pulled out his wallet containing P3,800 and handed it to the suspect.

The assailant then told him to alight from the vehicle while still poking the knife on the driver’s neck.

The suspect immediately commandeered the vehicle leaving the driver on the roadside.

Tamiano said he asked for help from a passing motorcycle but the first did not pull over. The second rider that passed him by brought him to the Oton Municipal Police Station.

The Oton police, together with Tamiano, rounded the area where he was held up and the neighboring villages.

Major Fernand Limbungan, Oton police chief, said they also sent a flash alarm to other police stations.

At around 9:45 a.m., the vehicle was spotted after it was abandoned at a roadside in Barangay San Jose, Arevalo, Iloilo City.

As this developed, police investigators have yet to identify the suspect.