Cab driver working for PBA cager arrested for burglary

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A taxi driver and his companion were arrested on Monday night for robbing a house in barangay Veterans Village in Project 7, Quezon City.

Reports from the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said that the suspects identified as taxi driver Eddie Valliente, 48; and Ronald Calderon, 47, were arrested in a follow-up operation conducted by elements of the Masambong Police Station at Tatco, Barangay Bagong Ilog, Pasig City.

The QCPD report said Valliente and Calderon were arrested a day after they forcibly entered the house of businesswoman Misella Maling in Project 7, Quezon City on Sunday. The suspects, who were armed with handguns, took away valuable items including a cellphone and a television set.

After Maling reported the incident to the Masambong police station, authorities started the investigation by looking through closed circuit television (CCTV) footage in the area, which showed the plate number of the getaway vehicle.

According to the QCPD’s verification with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Toyota Vios taxi cab is registered under the name of professional basketball player Doug Kramer.

Kramer later relayed the whereabouts of Valliente to the investigators, leading to the QCPD’s successful manhunt operation. The taxi cab and the .38 caliber revolver with three live ammunitions used in the robbery were recovered, aside from a cellular phone, the LED TV, and a laptop bag.

The QCPD also launched a manhunt operation against three other cohorts of the suspects. The two arrested suspects, who are under the custody of Masambong Police Station, will be charged with robbery before the Office of the City Prosecutor. /jpv