Isa pang rider, walang awang pinaslang ng pasahero, pati pamilya pinaglaruan pa

• A 35-year-old motorcycle taxi rider was fatally shot after accepting a booking from Manila to Carmona, Cavite
• The suspect allegedly used the victim's phone and e-wallet to extort money from his wife and relatives
• Police arrested the suspect in Tondo, Manila and recovered a motorcycle and a .45-caliber firearm
• The incident came just a day after another motorcycle taxi rider was killed in Caloocan during a robbery

Another motorcycle taxi rider has fallen victim to a violent crime after allegedly being robbed and fatally shot by his passenger during what was supposed to be a routine booking from Manila to Carmona, Cavite.

The victim was identified as Ren Ren De Laviga, 35, whose body was discovered lying along a road in Carmona. Authorities initially believed that he had died in a hit-and-run accident before evidence at the crime scene pointed to a different conclusion.

According to the investigation, the suspect booked De Laviga on July 9 for a ride from Manila to Carmona. While police were processing the area, investigators recovered a spent shell casing and an unfired bullet, indicating that the victim had been shot.

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“No one confirmed o anumang reported na may narinig na putok. The area, Ma'am, is medyo malayo sa mga kabahayan… while na-process po iyong crime scene, mayroon pong nakitang basyo ng bala at bala na hindi pa pumutok,” said Carmona Component City Police Station chief Police Lt. Col. Rene Joy Mosquiza.

The victim's family later confirmed that De Laviga had sustained a gunshot wound to the head.

Police also traced the victim's motorcycle to Trece Martires, Cavite, where investigators believe the same suspect was involved in another shooting incident.

“Mayroong pong naiwan na motorcycle doon sa Trece [Martires], at na-confirm ng family na iyon ay motor ng victim dito sa Carmona. Iyong suspek ay binaril niya doon sa Trece… at inagaw din iyong motor. Parang ang nangyari ipinalit iyong motor na nakuha niya sa Carmona doon sa motor na nandoon sa Trece,” Mosquiza explained.

Before the tragedy unfolded, De Laviga's wife said they had exchanged messages as he prepared for the trip. Hours later, however, she began receiving suspicious messages from her husband's phone.

According to investigators, the suspect took control of the victim's cellphone and e-wallet account before using them to trick the victim's family into sending money.

The widow recalled receiving a photo of the victim's motorcycle with its compartment open and belongings scattered.

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“Nasa barangay daw po kasi siya. Tapos ang sinend niya pong picture sa akin is yung motorsiklo niya po na naka-open po yung compartment ng motor, tapos yung gamit niya kalat-kalat. Doon po talaga ako nagduda,” she said.

She added:

“Tapos yung picture niya po is parang roll up lang po ng nakasaradong tindahan. Napaisip ako hindi ganyan yung hitsura ng barangay.”

At first, she believed her husband's account had been hacked. The suspect later admitted he supposedly had custody of her husband and demanded ransom.

“Sabi niya hawak niya daw po yung asawa ko, na [sabi niya] ‘magbigay ka sa akin ng limang libo kung gusto mo pang makauwi nang buhay yung asawa mo.’ Sabi ko po talaga, ‘kung talagang hawak mo yung asawa ko, pakita mo siya sa akin, picture, video o kahit yung voice lang na kahit 5 seconds, parang patunayan lang na buhay pa siya, na hawak mo siya.’ Ayaw niya pong ibigay,” she recounted.

The suspect also allegedly contacted one of the victim's siblings abroad to ask for money. Before any amount was transferred, the family coordinated with police, leading to an operation that resulted in the suspect's arrest in Tondo, Manila.

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Authorities recovered a motorcycle and a .45-caliber firearm from the suspect, who is now detained at the Trece Martires Police Custodial Facility. He declined to issue any statement and is expected to face multiple criminal charges.

The incident happened only a day after another motorcycle taxi rider was stabbed to death by a passenger in Caloocan, raising renewed concerns over the safety of riders who accept long-distance bookings.

In another report, a motorcycle taxi rider was fatally stabbed by his passenger in Barangay 20, Caloocan City, during the early hours of July 14. The suspect allegedly fled the scene using the victim's motorcycle but was later caught in Malabon after being apprehended by local residents. The victim's mother appealed for justice, saying that the suspect's apology could never make up for the loss of her son.

Meanwhile, a man identified as "Jamir" was arrested in Cotabato City after allegedly attempting to kill a police officer whom he suspected of having an affair with his wife. According to Mayor Bruce Matabalao, the shooting was believed to be a crime of passion driven by jealousy. The incident left Police Corporal Titing Kauring injured, while a tricycle driver was killed and a child was also caught in the crossfire.

Source: KAMI.com.gh