Driving instructor arrested for snatching bank employee’s bag in Marikina

MANILA, Philippines — A suspected robber in Marikina City was arrested by authorities after the car he was driving crashed at a nearby police checkpoint on Tuesday night.

Eduardo Baraquilla, a driving instructor from Calumpit, Bulacan, was arrested after a jeepney driver who tailed him told the policemen manning a checkpoint that he saw him snatch a bank employee’s bag earlier.

The police said that Charmaine Santos, of Deseret St., Vista Valley Subd., Sto. Niño, Marikina City, was buying puto (rice cake) along JP Rizal St., San Roque, Marikina City, at around 6:30 p.m. when Baraquilla alighted from a white Toyota Altis with license plate ZPR-337.

Baraquilla, who was only on his third day as a driving instructor at the 2As Driving School, then approached Santos and took her bag, which contained her cell phone, credit card, ATMs and some cash.

Insp. Edwin Malabanan, the chief of the Marikina City Police public information office, said that Baraquilla, who was driving his company’s car, then drove away but panicked after seeing a nearby police checkpoint.

He said that Baraquilla suddenly accelerated the car, which didn’t bore his company’s label, but hit a curb and crashed into a lamppost. When the three policemen manning the checkpoint tried to help Baraquilla, a jeepney driver who tailed him told the authorities that he saw him snatch Santos’ bag earlier.

Baraquilla is being held at the Marikina Investigation, Detention and Management Section’s detention cell.