ROXAS City — A tricycle driver posing as an agent of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and carrying an unlicensed firearm was arrested at Kilometer 1, Roxas City yesterday morning, July 13.
Police identified the suspect only by his alias, “Jabbar,” a resident of Tapaz, Capiz.
Ariel Villaruel, supervisor of the Roxas City Traffic Management Unit (TMU), disclosed in an interview with K5 News FM Roxas that his team flagged down the suspect’s tricycle after noticing passengers paying fares, indicating that the vehicle was operating as a “colorum” unit.
When questioned by traffic enforcers, Jabbar claimed that the passengers were his relatives. However, one of the commuters immediately denied the driver’s claim, triggering a heated altercation between the suspect and the TMU personnel.
The situation escalated when the driver refused to hand over his driver’s license. Amid the commotion, traffic enforcers noticed the suspect attempting to draw something from a waist bag slung around his hip, which was subsequently discovered to contain a gun.
TMU personnel immediately apprehended the suspect, who still attempted to flee the scene.
The suspect is currently detained at the Roxas Component City Police Station as authorities prepare the necessary charges against him./PN
