Young men dress in style to rob taxi drivers

MANILA, Philippines—Three young men who admitted purposely donning stylish get-ups to stage robberies in taxicabs were arrested in Quezon City at dawn Thursday, a police official said.

“Nagbibihis kami, at kapag naka-inom na kami, kung sino yung titigil at pasakayin kami, ’yon (We dress up and after we got our round of drinks, we hail a taxi and whoever stops, that’s it),” was how the group’s alleged leader, Bremar Guinto, described how they chose their victims.

Chief Superintendent Mario de la Vega announced the arrest of the suspects in a press briefing in Camp Karingal on Thursday.

He identified the arrested suspects as Guinto, John Gallego and Jaymar Gabito, all in their 20s.

De la Vega said the suspects were members of a young-looking gang of robbers who had been victimizing taxi drivers.

He warned that the robbers could easily pass off as high school students just on a night out.

“They were a group of five, all looked young, and did not look like they were a threat,’’ De la Vega said.

Police Senior Supt. Audie Madrideo of the Masambong Police Station said the group was arrested after they robbed Alain Esguerra while traveling along Kaingin Road.

Mardrideo added that the group had been operating in his jurisdiction and nearby areas.

He added that the group’s modus operandi was to tell the driver to bring them to a school campus.

“In order not to alarm the taxi driver, they would usually take a ride for short distance destination, usually a school campus,” the police official said.

Madrideo said they had received at least seven complaints of robbery, using the same modus operandi.