Cabbie fond of No. 19 wanted for rape, theft

AUTHORITIES have started looking for a taxi driver with a penchant for robbing his female passengers on the 19th of every month.

According to the police, Ricky Ramos—a Mandaluyong resident, has struck thrice since the start of the year—picking up four women within the city and robbing them of their valuables at gunpoint.

His last victim, however, told the police that she was also raped by the suspect.

Based on the four women’s accusations, the Mandaluyong City police have filed charges of rape and multiple counts of robbery against Ramos who remains at large.

Senior Supt. Joaquin Alva, the city’s police chief, told the Inquirer on Monday that the suspect’s latest victim, Elsa (not her real time), was on her way to Makati City on March 19 when she hailed a cab (AAP 7886) on Pines Street in Barangay Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City, around 4 a.m.

Upon reaching the corner of Union and Madison Streets, the suspect pointed a gun at the 22-year-old victim and took her bag which contained two cell phones, P6,000 in cash and jewelry, Alva added.

Not content with his loot, Ramos also raped Elsa before leaving her by the roadside. He then fled and the police later found the cab which had been abandoned in Makati City with some of the victim’s valuables.

The police said that the attack on Elsa by Ramos, who has other robbery cases pending in Makati and Manila courts, was the most serious crime he has so far been accused of.

As far as the Mandaluyong police are concerned, Ramos’ first victims were Kristine dela Cruz and Kristine Quiros whom he robbed on Jan. 19 as they were riding in his cab in Barangay Highway Hills at 1:40 a.m.

On Feb. 19, Ramos robbed at gunpoint his passenger, Shiary Mae Berdin, in front of a mall on Edsa-Mandaluyong around 2:40 a.m. Berdin told the police that the suspect stole her cell phone, gadgets, credit card and P22,000 in cash but did not rape her.

At that time, the cab Ramos was driving had the license plate UWK 405, she added.

All four victims were able to positively identify Ramos from photographs shown to them by the police. However, they failed to arrest him when they went to his supposed hideouts in Barangays Addition Hills and Harapin ang Bukas.