After stealing cab, man asked for P30K ‘ransom’
Philippine Daily InquirerEither he didn’t have parking space or really needed cash that day.
A man was arrested Thursday afternoon in Cubao, Quezon City, in an entrapment operation conducted by the police after he demanded a P30,000 “ransom” for the taxi cab he earlier stole.
Henri-Joseph Roa, 39, was cornered when he met with the taxi’s owner, who by then had alerted authorities about the suspect’s demand. Quezon City Police District director Chief Supt. Mario de la Vega said the trap was set following a complaint from taxi operator Charlston Sy and his driver, Gerry Geneston.
Geneston said he was driving along P. Tuazon Avenue past midnight on Wednesday when Roa hailed his cab and asked to be brought to 9th Avenue. The gun-wielding suspect later declared a holdup and took the driver’s cell phone and his day’s earnings worth around P2,000.
Roa then forced Geneston out of the vehicle and drove off.
Later that day, the suspect phoned the taxi company to say that he was willing to return the vehicle, a white Toyota Vios, in exchange for P30,000.
Sy agreed to meet with the suspect on Thursday—and sought the help of the QCPD.
Roa, a resident of Pasig City, was arrested around 3 p.m. Thursday at the corner of 20th and P. Tuazon Avenues. The stolen taxi was recovered during the operation.
He was charged with robbery and car theft. Prosecutor Rodrigo Rosario set the bail for the two charges at P100,000 and P300,000, respectively. Julie M. Aurelio
Follow Us
Recent Stories:
