Rookie cop foils jeepney holdup in Manila, kills 1 robber

MANILA, Philippines—Three robbers realized too late that they had chosen the wrong jeepney to rob as one of their would-be victims turned out to be a member of the police Special Action Force who was more than their match.

One of the robbers was killed on the spot when he tried to stab Police Officer 1 Rhenel Rue, 29, assigned with the PNP-SAF 2nd Battalion of the Police Regional Office 3 based at the Subic Bay Freeport, while his two accomplices jumped off the vehicle and escaped, police said.

PO3 Bernardo Cayabyab of the Manila Police District (MPD) homicide section said that before the attempted robbery, which happened around 1 a.m.  on Monday inside a Pasay City-bound public utility jeepney on the southbound lane of the Lagusnilad underpass near the Manila City Hall, three men flagged down and boarded the vehicle at Plaza Sta. Cruz.

Cayabyab said that upon reaching Padre Burgos Avenue, the three men declared a hold-up, brandishing fanknives and a handgun on the eight passengers.

The case investigator said that Rue immediately introduced himself as a policeman but a knife-wielding robber thrust the blade at him.

“Rue parried the thrust, which caught the right sleeve of his jacket. He then drew his gun and shot his attacker in the forehead,” Cayabyab told the Inquirer, adding that the two other robbers panicked and jumped off the jeepney.

Driver Leonardo Espinosa, who was stunned by the incident, instinctively drove the jeepney to the MPD headquarters on UN Avenue to report the robbery, bringing along the body of the slain robber and Rue with him.

Cayabyab told the Inquirer that the robbers probably did not believe Rue when he introduced himself as a policeman.

“He is a rookie and looked younger than his age. He was on his way to report for duty and was going to Pasay City to catch a bus to Subic,” he said.

Three of Rue’s fellow passengers gave sworn statements to the MPD homicide section and narrated how one of the robbers was killed and how Rue foiled the robbery. Cayabyab recovered a seven-inch fan knife near the body of the slain robber.

Rue was allowed to report for work by noon Monday after he submitted an affidavit.