Police recovered a taxi that was allegedly stolen in a “salisi” theft incident in Bacolod City, Tuesday night, March 10.
The complainant was identified as Romel Baldonado, 60, a taxi driver and resident of Brgy. Zone 14-A, Talisay City.
Bacolod City Police Office director Col. Eugene Rebadomia urged taxi drivers to remain vigilant and avoid being too trusting following the incident.
Police said the suspect boarded the taxi outside a hotel along Lacson Street around 8:30 p.m.
Authorities said the passenger initially asked to be dropped off at a hardware store in Brgy. 5.
However, upon reaching 6th Street Lacson in Barangay 7 near the Capitol Lagoon, the passenger asked the driver to deliver a laptop to a spa employee identified only as alias “Elen.”
Police said the driver left the key in the ignition while the taxi engine was still running and entered the spa to look for the employee.
Workers at the spa told the driver that no one named “Elen” worked there, and the driver then discovered that his taxi was gone.
Police launched a dragnet operation which led to the recovery of the taxi early Wednesday morning, March 11, along Santa Catalina Street in Eroreco Subdivision, Brgy. Mandalagan.
Authorities said the vehicle was left abandoned with its engine still running and items inside scattered.
Police said the driver’s two cellphones and the taxi’s earnings were missing.
Salisi is a Filipino term that refers to a specific type of theft involving distraction and opportunity. *
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