A taxi driver was held up and carnapped by two unidentified suspects at Purok Bugnay in Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City on Tuesday evening.

The victim was identified as 49-year-old Arnel Lape, a resident of Purok Masanag Uno in Barangay 26 of the said city.

Initial investigations revealed the suspects boarded the taxi from South Capitol Road around 7:30 p.m.

The suspects later declared hold up and seized P3,000 cash and a mobile phone from the driver. They also used the taxi as a getaway vehicle.

Police eventually recovered the taxi along Josefa Street in Barangay Mandalagan.

Based on a rogues’ gallery shown by the police, the victim identified one of the suspects as Johnny Villarete of Purok Riverside in Barangay Bata.

According to Police Station 4 (PS4) commander, Police Chief Inspector Ritchie Gohee, Villarete was a member of a notorious robbery group run by Aki Cuadra and Alex ‘Rondoy’ Barredo./NC, WDJ