Woman raped in taxi in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines – Days after a man was arrested for robbing and raping female taxi passengers, a 27-year-old woman was raped by a taxi driver and his companion in Quezon City Sunday night.

The woman told police she was walking outside a mall on North EDSA when one of the men forced her at knifepoint to board the taxi.

She said the men started taking turns repeatedly raping her as they went through Bulacan Street in Barangay Bungad at around 7:30 p.m.

The men did not stop raping her until they dumped her at the corner of Quezon and West Avenues at around 7 a.m, said the woman, who added that she immediately went to the police to report the attack.

Police have conducted an ocular inspection of the area to check if the vehicle the rapists used could be seen on closed-circuit camera footage.

Following the incident, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Superintendent Edgardo Tinio advised the public, particularly women, to always be vigilant and pay attention to their surroundings.

Tinio said the QCPD will conduct an information drive to give commuters tips on how to prevent such incidents.

Cops get medals for suspect’s capture

Meanwhile, Makati police chief Senior Superintendent Ernesto Barlam and nine of his men received medals yesterday for the arrest of two men who reportedly stole taxis and used them to lure female passengers he robbed and raped.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Joel Pagdilao conferred the Philippine National Police Medalya ng Kagalingan (Medal of Merit) on the Makati policemen in ceremonies at Camp Bagong Diwa.

Barlam and his men served warrants of arrest on Nitro Ison, 24, alias Ricky Ramos and Zenki Ison for robbery issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 21 and the Makati RTC Branch 147.

At least four taxi passengers identified Ison as the man who raped and robbed them, Pagdilao said.

Police investigators also tagged Ison in the murder of Teng Santaromana Gamboa, widow of the late Tropical Depression frontman Dominic “Papadom” Gamboa.

Gamboa was found dead a day after she went missing in Makati City on Feb. 10. She had been shot in the head.

“The suspect would steal taxis and then hunt down potential victims such as call center agents in parts of Makati, Mandaluyong and Quezon City,” Pagdilao said.

Ison was also linked to robberies in Makati, Taguig, Mandaluyong, Pasay and Quezon City.

Police said the suspect is facing charges of rape, car theft, robbery and homicide and is in the custody of the Makati police. – With Non Alquitran