Old grudges seen as motive in cabbie slay
From the initial motive of robbery, police investigators are now looking at the possibility that the death of a taxi driver in La Paz, Iloilo City was triggered by old grudges.
Although he did not elaborate further, La Paz Police Station commander Senior Insp. Alex Rosales claimed that they have reasons to believe that Nolan Tupas, 46, of Brgy. Hibao-an, Mandurriao district was killed because of old grudges.
Rosales took into consideration the fact that the suspects spared the victim’s collection amounting to P1,880 as well as his wallet, mobile phone, and wristwatch.
He added that they have witnesses who saw two persons who were with the victim when the incident happened.
To note, at around 8:30 p.m. of Saturday , a concerned citizen informed Police Station 2 that abandoned taxi was found blocking the main road of Brgy Hinactacan, La Paz.
Tupas, driver of Liandro taxi with body number 1398 bearing temporary plate NR 06-2007, was found lying about 25 meters away from the taxi.
A 13-inch butcher’s knife was still embedded on his back.
He was brought by the responding PNP members to West Visayas State University Medical Center but was pronounced dead on arrival.
According to reports, one hour before the incident, two male passengers were seen on board the said taxi at the main road of Brgy. Hinactacan. One of them alighted and urinated at the roadside.
A witness said that while on their way back, the said taxi is already blocking the road and the driver and his two passengers were no longer in sight.
This prompted the witness to report the incident to the barangay officials.
Earlier, Tupas’ wife saw no other motive why her husband got killed.
She attested that the victim had established a good relationship among his co-workers.
Although she claimed of a conflict between her husband and neighbors, the wife believed that it’s not enough to warrant Tupas’ death.
