A taxi driver broke free and his passenger was arrested near the barangay hall in Barangay Ibo, Lapu-Lapu City, at about 4.20am on Friday 23 October 2026. Police are preparing complaints for robbery and attempted homicide. Man arrested for trying to rob cabbie
The passenger
The Freeman named the passenger as Richard Escartan, 32, of Barangay Dumlog, Talisay City, and the driver as Benedicto Embalzado, of Barangay San Roque, Cebu City. Police Station 5 in Lapu-Lapu City, in a report carried by Cebu Daily News, used the same first names.
Escartan hailed the taxi near a mall in Cebu City's North Reclamation Area and asked to go to Barangay Umapad in Mandaue City. At Umapad he changed the destination to Barangay Ibo. He was in the passenger seat. Near the Ibo barangay hall he allegedly grabbed Embalzado by the neck and threatened him with a knife. Embalzado broke free and ran for help.
The arrest
The same report says Ibo barangay public safety officers and the station's Tactical Motorized Response Unit were nearby. They arrested Escartan and took him to the police station in Barangay Pusok. The Freeman added that barangay tanods had called the police, and that Police Major Romeo Caacoy Jr. and the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office tactical motorcycle unit also took part.