A Joyride driver, known only as Mark, was found in Brgy. Biga, Tanza, Cavite by a concerned citizen. He was discovered with his neck tightly bound and his body wrapped in packaging tape, the victim of a robbery.

Mark tearfully recounted his ordeal. According to him, two male passengers boarded his vehicle at the Starbucks across from Robinsons Malate in Manila. The booking was made under the name “Pablo Gomez”.

Upon reaching a dark part of Sta. Mesa, one of the passengers immediately pointed a gun at his side while the other threatened him with a knife from behind.

Mark pleaded with the robbers, promising to comply with their demands and offering them anything they wanted in exchange for his safety. At that point, he was moved to the back of the car and bound with masking tape.

They drove for about two hours until they reached Cavite. Upon arrival, he was forced out of the car and left on the side of the road. The robbers were about to slit his throat when a group of motorcyclists passed by, causing them to panic and flee in his car.

Police Senior Mst. Sgt. Israel Villela, an investigator with the Tanza Municipal Police Station, revealed that they had received intel about a similar robbery incident in Antipolo City. The booking was also made under the name “Pablo Gomez” and the same cellphone number was used, just twelve days before Mark’s ordeal.

Senator Raffy Tulfo expressed deep sympathy upon learning that Joyride had only given Mark ₱10,000. Moved by his plight, Senator Tulfo gave Mark ₱50,000 to help with his daily expenses. Mark broke down in tears upon receiving the senator’s aid.

As the new Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, Utilities, and Franchises, Senator Tulfo vowed to call a Senate hearing to scrutinize the loopholes in the Sim Card Registration Law and investigate the increasing number of robbery incidents involving TNVS drivers.