Cabbie robs call center worker in Quezon City

A call center supervisor who said he was a grandson of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile was robbed of his valuables by a cab driver who ferried him Monday morning in Quezon City.

The complainant, Achilles Ponce Enrile, lost his iPad, Blackberry, platinum ring, and a green Lacoste wallet containing P4,700, ATM and credit cards, IDs, and drivers’ and firearm licenses.

‘Romeo taxi’

The heist allegedly happened at about 8:15 a.m. along Edsa near the SM City Annex in Barangay Sto. Cristo, Bago Bantay, while the victim was inside the suspect’s cab.

The 32-year-old Enrile, a call center supervisor living in Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City, recalled that the taxi, a white Toyota Vios, had the markings “Romeo Taxi.”

He was however unsure of the license plate, which he recalled to police as either “TXB143” or “TXB 148.”

Supt. Audie Madrideo, Masambong police station commander, said the driver-cum-robber was armed with a revolver.

According to the police, the Enrile had just gotten off from work in Mandaluyong City when he hailed a cab at about 8 a.m.

Case investigator SPO2 Rogelio Bartolome, citing the victim’s account, said Enrile flagged the cab near Robinson’s Pioneer mall along Edsa in Mandaluyong City.

The victim asked to be brought to Monumento in Caloocan City to meet his girlfriend. Enrile fell asleep in the passenger seat beside the driver while passing by Cubao in Quezon City.

Somewhere on Edsa, near SM North Edsa Annex, the driver woke Enrile, who said the suspect was already pointing a gun to his head.

Latest incident

The unknown robber quickly divested the victim of his belongings and left Enrile on the road. The victim was able to ask for help from policemen at the corner of Edsa and West Avenue.

The policemen attempted but failed to find the cab in the area based on Enrile’s recollection of its appearance.

Madrideo said the driver of the cab had become the subject of a manhunt in Metro Manila as police also checked the vehicle’s records, if any.

The incident was the latest in a string of crimes where call center employees were victimized.