Driver nabbed after running away with newly-issued cab
A taxi driver was arrested in Manila on Monday afternoon after running away with the vehicle a day after his operator hired him.
Elements of the Manila Police District (MPD)-anti-carnapping unit identified the suspect as James Ronald Otero, 49, resident of Parañaque City.
Investigation showed that Otero was driving the stolen vehicle in front of the MPD headquarters along UN Avenue as they were about to respond to the complaint of taxi operator Cymberline Del Fierro around 5:30 p.m.
Del Fierro, 45, a resident of Gaiety Street, Better Living Subdivision, Parañaque, said Otero was dispatched on December 30, 2018 after the regular driver of one of her taxis failed to report to work.
It was Otero’s first day on the job after he was recommended by Maximo Boltron, Del Fierro’s dispatcher.
However, the suspect never reported back to the company’s office and never communicated again with Boltron.
Records show that Otero was arrested in 2016 for the same offense.
After recording the complaint, the operatives went out of their office to scour the Malate area, where the suspect was last seen as reported by a fellow driver.
It was while they were standing in front of the street when Otero, who was driving the taxi, stopped due to traffic.
A case of carnapping was filed by police operatives against the suspect.