Cabbie robbed of taxi, earnings in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines–A cabbie who thought he was ferrying passengers ended up being waylaid by robbers who took off with his money and taxi on Friday night in Quezon City.

Erlindo Labastida, 28, was robbed by two armed men whom he picked up at the Gateway Mall in Cubao.

Case investigator Police Officer 3 Wilnor Agudo of the Talipapa police station said one of the suspects was armed with a gun while the other wielded a knife.

The incident happened at around 11 p.m. Friday along Quirino Highway in Barangay Baesa where the “passengers” asked to be brought.

The cabbie said he picked up the two men in Cubao and drove them to Barangay Baesa.

While cruising along Quirino Highway, the suspects suddenly brought out their weapons and declared the heist.

Labastida lost over P9,000 in earnings, a cellphone, a wristwatch, an ATM card, IDs and his drivers’ license.

After robbing him, the suspects even drove off with his white Nissan Sentra taxi with “Mindoro Lady” markings and license plate UVP 921.

Agudo said the robbers were seen speeding off toward Balintawak after the heist.