QUEZON CITY, Philippines – The blaring horn got the neighborhood’s attention and sent out a call for street justice.
Two teenagers got mauled by an angry mob in Quezon City late Thursday night, after the taxi driver they allegedly robbed repeatedly honked the horn to alert bystanders and prevent the suspects’ escape.
One of the suspects later died in a hospital from the severe beating.
The fatality was identified as Aron Concepcion, 18, who died while receiving treatment at Quezon City General Hospital. His alleged cohort, Christian de Guzman, 19, was also treated there for injuries.
The two teenagers allegedly posed as passengers and robbed Ildefonso Ferrer, 50, at knife-point inside the taxi he was driving in Barangay Mariana, according to the investigator, PO2 Gilmer Marinas.
Ferrer was driving along Betty Go Belmonte Street when the two men hailed the cab and asked to be brought to Rosario Drive. Upon reaching the area around 11:45 p.m., they announced a holdup and took Ferrer’s earnings worth P4,500.
Immediately after the suspects stepped out of the cab, the driver locked all doors and started honking the horn, drawing the attention of several bystanders.
Alerted to the robbery, they spotted and caught up with Concepcion and De Guzman, ganging up on the two until barangay watchmen arrived and stopped the beatings. Ferrer got his money back.
Concepcion died of severe head and body injuries around 4:45 a.m. Friday. De Guzman was later discharged from the hospital and was brought straight to jail to face charges.
Asked if the bystanders could also be held liable for the excessive and fatal use of force in stopping the suspects, Marinas said charges could be filed if De Guzman could identify them.