Taxi ‘robber’ nabbed; ‘moto-napper’ killed

The woman positively identified Tuquero as the one who held her up and who also molested her. Shabu worth P3,500 was also allegedly found in the suspect’s possession

Operatives of the Batasan police station under Lt. Col. Alexy Sonido arrested over the weekend the driver of a stolen taxi after he held-up his female passenger and even tried to molest her by touching her privates.

Sonido identified the suspect as Mario Tuquero, the driver of a Toyota Vios “Arcel” taxi unit, with license plate NBS 9605. He was arrested by the police who conducted a dragnet after a female call center agent reported the incident to them.

The 24-year-old victim’s smartphone and other valuables were recovered from

Tuquero, according to the police report that said the woman was held by the suspect at knifepoint. Tuquero touched the victim’s private parts, according to the complaint.

The victim was able to escape by pushing Tuquero, according to the report. She then met police officers belonging to the Batasan station who promptly radioed the incident for action. Tuquero’s taxi was intercepted along Commonwealth Avenue in Barangay Balara, Quezon City.

The woman positively identified Tuquero as the one who held her up and who also molested her. Shabu worth P3,500 was also allegedly found in the suspect’s possession.

The female owner of the taxi unit came at the police station to report its having been stolen. Toquero will be charged with robbery, physical injuries, acts of lasciviousness, illegal possession of a deadly weapon, carnapping and possession of illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, Quezon City Police District chief Remus Medina said that a “motor-napping” suspect was killed in an alleged shootout with operatives of the Payatas Bagong Silangan Police Station close to midnight Saturday along Mahogany Street, corner Payatas Road.

Station commander Lt. Col. Roldante Sarmiento said the suspect, about 5-foot-1, wearing gray shorts and a green and red sweatshirt hoody, with “Aries” tattooed on his back, remained unidentified at press time.

One Aldrin Amorcillo, 28, complained to the police that he was about to ride his Yamaha Mio motorbike when six men aboard three motorcycles came and forcibly took his mobile phone and motorcycle.

Amorcillo immediately reported the incident to the police who chanced upon the suspect aboard the stolen Mio.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JON GAMBOA FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE LACSON Avenue’s intersection in Manila shows light vehicular traffic. And why not? It’s early Sunday morning.