Driver hurt, 2 nabbed in C-5 carjack

A jeepney driver was injured after his vehicle fell on its side as he fought off two alleged carjackers on C-5 Road before dawn on Tuesday.

A Quezon City Police District mobile team arrested the suspects following a chase that started in the Libis area and ended in Pasig City.

It was the second time since last month that carjackers struck on C-5 targeting passenger jeepneys, police said.

Police Officer 3 Jonar Jorta of the QCPD’s Libis station said Johnny Lagundi, 41, of Bagong Ilog, Pasig, was hurt after his jeepney lost control on C-5’s southbound lane in front of Tiendesitas shopping center at around 5 a.m.

Arrested were Arlan Alibio, 38, and Winston Verches, 38, also from Pasig.

Lagundi was heading to Cubao with a full load of passengers, including Alibio and Verches, when the two declared a heist upon reaching the Wilcon Depot store and ordered the other passengers to get off.

The suspects then ordered Lagundi to make a U-turn. One of them tried to take over the steering wheel but Lagundi refused to yield, causing the jeepney to swerve and catch the attention of a QCPD mobile patrol unit.

Police chased the speeding jeepney until the vehicle toppled over, injuring Lagundi. He was rushed to the Rizal Medical Center.

The suspects, both unscathed, yielded a .38-cal. revolver, Jorta said. With Fatima Reyes, INQUIRER.net and Erwin Aguilon, Radyo Inquirer

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Originally posted: 9:13 am | Tuesday, June 5th, 2012