A 28-year-old woman passenger escaped death by poking the eye of her attacker with a toothbrush Tuesday, leading to the arrest of the suspect an hour after the robbery and slay attempt in Quezon City.
Police said the woman boarded a Vivian Transport Taxi with plate number TXW 371 at the Araneta Center in Cubao just after midnight and asked to be brought to Sandiganbayan on Commonwealth Avenue.
The victim, whose identity was withheld, told police that the driver, identified as Zaldy Macatiag, 41, of Rodriguez, Rizal, did not take the usual route and drove to Engineering Street in Baranga Sauyo, Novaliches, where he announced the heist.
The suspect took the victim’s mobile phone and started hitting her with a steel pipe.
While the attack was going on, the victim managed to get a toothbrush inside her bag and hit the suspect’s left eye.
As the suspect writhed in pain, the victim rushed out of the cab and sought the help of a tricycle driver who rushed her to the Far Eastern University hospital.
Alerted by the victim, the Novaliches Police Station immediately conducted a follow-up operation.
At around 1 a.m., police received information from a traffic officer of the Quezon City Police District Traffic Sector 5 about an injured taxi driver who was brought to East Avenue Medical Center.
Minutes later, the victim positively identified the suspect who was promptly arrested.
Recovered from the suspect’s taxi were a 16-inch long steel pipe, a mobile phone, maroon luggage, and a black sling bag containing several identification cards.
Police said Macatiag will be charged with robbery holdup and frustrated murder. (Alexandria San Juan)
