Cab driver who robbed passenger dies in shootout with Taguig cops
Police line
MANILA, Philippines — A taxi driver who was accused of robbing his passenger was killed during an armed encounter with responding police officers in Taguig City, the Southern Police District (SPD) said on Monday.
Reports from SPD said that the victim boarded the taxicab, driven by the suspect identified as Ryan Guanieso, 36, from Pasay City, at around 1:50 a.m. on Sunday along the C-5 Sampaguita West Service Road’s flyover near the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
When they were near the American Cemetery, the victim said that the driver pulled over and pointed a gun at him and declared a holdup, taking the victim’s wallet and cellular phone.
After the victim was asked to go down, the driver sped away. The SPD said that the victim sought assistance from the police personnel at the Substation 1 of the Bonifacio Global City.
“The responding officers who were conducting mobile patrolling at said area immediately responded and chased the aforementioned vehicle which resulted to an armed encounter. The encounter resulted to the death of Guanieso,” SPD said.
No details have been released as of now as to where exactly and how the gunfight took place. However, photos sent by SPD showed a pistol with three live bullets recovered from the crime scene, along with a Toyota Vios taxi supposedly used by the suspect, bearing the plate number ABG 8774.
SPD Director Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg said that what happened to the suspect would happen to other criminals if they fight back.
“Ito po ang mangyayari sa kriminal na manglalaban sa ating mga kapulisan, gusto po nmin ipaalala na ang layunin ng inyong kapulisan ay protektahan ang ating mga kababayan sa mapansamantalang mga kriminal, at hindi din po kami mangingimi na ipagtangol ang aming sarili kung ito ay nasa tiyak na panganib,” Macaraeg said.
(This is what would happen to criminals who would fight it out with police officers. We want to remind the public that the duty of the police is to protect people from criminals, and we would not hesitate to defend ourselves if we would be in the line of actual danger.)
“Binabati ko ang ating mga kapulisan sa kanilang agarang aksyon at matalinong pagresponde sa tawag ng ating kababayan,” he added.
(I am lauding the police officers for their quick actions and intelligent response to the complaints from the victim.)
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