Taxi driver nabbed for Makati City holdup inside his cab

The police arrested a taxi driver who, together with a still unidentified man, allegedly robbed two passengers in Makati City on Friday.

Rogelio Valencia Jr., 42, picked up his would-be victims at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 and later opened his cab to a third male passenger who later declared a holdup, according to the complainants.

The two passengers, Ronald Evangelista and Raymart Balceta, both in their early 20s, hailed Valencia’s cab (UVP 693) at Naia 3 early Friday night. Both taking the back seat, they asked to be brought to Manila.

But as they reached Osmeña Highway, Valencia allowed another man to get in and take the front passenger seat and then made a turn to Gil Puyat Avenue. The third passenger then took out a knife and announced the holdup as Valencia continued driving.

The suspects took P8,000 in cash and cellphones from Balceta and Evangelista, whom they released on Zobel Roxas Street.

While walking, the victims came across a police checkpoint around 8:50 p.m. and reported the robbery, according to SPO3 Danilo Ortega of the Makati police.

They were allowed to board a patrol car, which went around the area to look for the suspects. Upon reaching Arellano Street, they saw Valencia and his cohort walking on the sidewalk and the taxi cab already parked nearby, Ortega said.

Positively identified by Evangelista and Balceta, Valencia was arrested on the spot but his partner managed to run away.

Only the victims’ cash was recovered from the driver, according to Senior Supt. Ernesto Barlam, officer in charge of the Makati police.

Valencia admitted that the two men were his passengers but denied the robbery allegations.