Police arrested one of the two suspects who robbed a taxi driver at knifepoint in Barangay Basak-San Nicolas, Cebu City early Saturday morning, October 21, 2023. | Contributed photo via Paul Lauro
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Police here arrested one of two robbery suspects who victimized a taxi driver in Sitio Pandayan, Barangay Basak-San Nicolas, Cebu City early Saturday morning, October 21, 2023.
The robbery incident took place inside the taxi being driven by the victim at around 5:00 a.m.
The police report revealed that a concerned citizen called the Mambaling Police Station at around 5:50 a.m. and reported an alleged robbery in the area.
The victim was identified as Ponciano Mandawi Jr., legal age, and a resident of Barangay Proper Mohon, Talisay City, Cebu.
The victim works as a taxi driver.
According to the initial investigation by police, two male persons entered the victim’s taxi early on Saturday.
While inside the vehicle, the two allegedly poked a knife at the taxi driver and robbed the victim of his earnings. However, the driver fought the two holduppers, stopped his vehicle, and asked for help from a bystander in the area.
One of the alleged robbery suspects was identified as 33-year-old Raymond Arsenal Flores, a resident of Barangay Proper Daanbantayan, Cebu. His cohort escaped.
The second robbery suspect was identified by police as 21-year-old Jhesim Olarte Ortiga, a resident of Sitio Lawis, Alaska, Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City.
Ortiga allegedly ran away from the scene and headed to the interior portion of the barangay where the robbery happened.
According to the police report, a hot-pursuit operation to apprehend Ortiga is currently being conducted.
Meanwhile, Flores was arrested and brought to the Mambaling Police Station where he is detained while waiting for the filing of appropriate charges against him.
The report revealed that Flores will most likely face charges of robbery. /rcg
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