High school student stabs, robs taxi driver in Lapu

An 18-year-old high school student was arrested by police after he allegedly robbed and stabbed a taxi driver last Sunday night in barangay Canjulao, Lapu-Lapu City.

Richard Gallarde of Pajo National High School is detained at the Lapu-Lapu precinct  and will be charged with robbery with frustrated homicide

Police initial investigation revealed that Revolution Taxi driver Rogelio Noynay of barangay Alang-Alang, Mandaue City, was flagged down by Gallarde along barangay Poblacion.

The suspect instructed the driver to bring him to barangay Gun-ob.

When they reached the place, police said the suspect changed his mind and asked the victim to bring to barangay Canlujao instead.

Police said that when they reached a dark place, the suspect poked a knife at the victim’s neck and declared a holdup. The victim resisted that prompted the suspect to stab him.

After the suspect collected the driver’s  earning, he fled on foot while the victim ran for help to a gas station nearby.

He was rushed to the Lapu-Lapu Hospital for treatment and later transferred to the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

Police conducted a hot pursuit operation and spotted a man running in Gun-ob. They  interrogated him but he acted suspiciously, which prompted them to arrest and bring him to the hospital where the victim was being treated.

The victim positively identified the suspect, who said he needed money for his studies./correspondent norman mendoza