Carpool driver stabber nabbed
POLICE arrested one of the two notorious carnapper who strangled and repeatedly stabbed a carpool driver after the victim miraculously survived the heinous murder attempt in Valenzuela City.
Joint elements of Valenzuela Police Warrant and Subpoena Section (WSS) and Station Investigation Unit (SIU) arrested Diomedes Saquillo, Jr. alias “Jonel Saquillo” along C5 Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Sunday afternoon while his cohort, identified only as “Migs” was still at large.
WSS chief P/Lt. Robin Santos said the suspects were among the passengers of the victim, whose name was temporarily withheld for security reasons, in a carpool ride-sharing service from Quezon province to Valenzuela City last January 18, 2022.
When all the passengers, except the two suspects, got off at their respective destinations, one of the suspects pulled out a handgun while his cohort strangled the victim with a rope and forcibly pulled him out of the driver’s seat when they reached an uncrowded place in Bgy. Parada.
When the victim tried to resist, he was repeatedly stabbed in different parts of his body, eight on his chest, three in the abdomen, twice on his hand and one each in his ear and shoulder.
The victim said the suspects only stopped stabbing him when he pretended to be dead and drove off with his Toyota Hiace van before pulling him out of his vehicle upon reaching San Pedro, Laguna.
A good Samaritan who happened to pass by the area saw the bloodied victim and upon seeing he was still breathing, rushed him to the nearest hospital where he was placed under observation at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after treatment of stab wounds.
Lt. Santos said the person who helped the victim personally reported the incident to the police prompting them to coordinate with the Laguna Provincial Police that resulted in the recovery of the stolen vehicle somewhere in San Pedro.
A footage from the vehicle’s dashcam was also retrieved where the victim’s identification was revealed and resulted in the arrest of Saguillo. The vehicle’s key was also recovered from him.
Police learned that Saquillo has a standing warrant of arrest for five counts of Estafa in Dasmarinas, Cavite issued last September 20, 2021.
He and his cohort will be charged for frustrated murder, robbery with serious physical injuries, and qualified carnapping before the Valenzuela City Prosecutor’s Office.
