Two armed men are facing robbery holdup and illegal possession of firearms charges after trying to rob a taxi driver in Tondo, Manila at 12:20 a.m. on Thursday, March 3.
Police identified the suspects as Glen Mark Evasco, 33, and Ryan Medina, 30, both residents of Caloocan City.
According to the report of the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 7 (Jose Abad Santos Police Station), the duo were arrested by members of the MPD Tactical Motorcycle Riders Unit (TMRU) who were on a surveillance operation at the time of the incident.
Taxi driver Jessie Mejulio, 56, told police that the two suspects posing as passengers boarded his taxi at Monumento, Caloocan City. They later announced a holdup upon reaching Tondo.
Mejulio, however, drove toward a group of TRMU members at the corner of Jose Abad Santos Avenue and Solis Street, where he quickly got off his cab and informed the cops that he was being held up by his passengers.
The police team immediately responded and cuffed the two suspects.
Recovered from Evasco and Medina were a replica of a .45-caliber pistol and a mini Uzi loaded with six bullets.
Police also seized from them P510 cash, two pieces of alleged fake P1,000 bill, and a backpack.
Police said the suspects were presented for inquest before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office for robbery holdup, illegal possession of firearms, and violation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban.