Jeepney overturns as driver tries to fight off robbers

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MANILA, Philippines—A jeepney driver was injured when his vehicle overturned as he fought with carjackers trying to wrest control of his vehicle on C-5 Road in Pasig City early Tuesday morning. Police who were chasing the hijacked vehicle arrested the alleged robbers.

The jeepney driver, Johnny Lagundi, 41, of Bagong Ilog, Pasig City, was hospitalized at the Rizal Medical Center.

Investigator Police Officer 3 Jonar Jorta of the Libis police station identified the suspects as Arlan Alibio, 38, and Winston Verches, 38, both of Pasig City. Police seized a .38-caliber revolver from them.

Initial investigation showed that Lagundi was driving along C-5 to Cubao with his jeepney full of passengers.

Upon reaching the Wilcon Home Depot in Quezon City at around 5 a.m. two of the passengers declared a heist. They ordered the other passengers of the vehicle and told Lagundi to make a U-turn to the southbound lane.

But the driver fought with the suspects for control of the steering wheel, causing the jeepney to swerve and catch the attention of a roving patrol car from the Libis police station nearby which quickly gave chase until the jeepney overturned in front of the Tiendesitas shopping center in Pasig.

The carjack attempt was not the first along C-5 Road. PO3 Jaime Talay said another jeepney was hijacked in the area last month.

Superintendent Ferdinand Villanueva of the Quezon City Police District’s Anti-Carnapping Unit said even jeepneys were now targets of carjacking groups. A carjacked jeepney could fetch a price of P30,000, he said.

Villanueva said they are conducting follow up operations against the group of Verches and Alibio.