Motorcycle taxi client admits hold up was made up

A BPO employee who went viral after her posting that she was robbed by a motorcycle taxi driver is now claiming that she fabricated her story.

In an earlier report, the woman claimed she was robbed by a motorcycle taxi rider of P4,000 and debit cards before she was dropped off in a dark area in Pasay City. She also filed a report at the Pasay Police Substation 4 on the incident.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Tina Panganiban-Perez, the alleged victim has not yet returned to the police to retract her statement, but admitted in an interview with Senator Raffy Tulfo that she made up her story because she did not like some comments and actions of the driver.

Pasay City Police conducted an investigation into the incident following the individual’s report on the incident and was unable to find proof that she was dropped off at Pasay City as she claimed.

“Binalikan natin yung lugar na pinangyarihan, ayon sa kanyang sinasabi. So tinignan namin kung meron ngang captured sa CCTV. Wala talaga tayong naano doon during the backtracking,” said Pasay City Police chief Police Colonel Samuel Pabonita.

(We returned to the area where she claimed it happened. We checked if there was anything captured by the CCTV. We did not find anything during the backtracking)

“Kumuha kami nung record, booking record ng [motorcycle] taxi. Nakita nga namin meron ngang booking from Cubao to McKinley Exchange. Then, after 8 minutes, ang ating motor taxi nagbobooking ng panibagong booking naman, from Glorietta to Mandaluyong. So, it proves na yung babae, hindi naman binaba sa Pasay,” he added.

(We also took the booking record of the [motorcycle] taxi. We saw that there really was a booking from Cubao to McKinley Exchange. Then, after 8 minutes, the motor taxi is making another booking from Glorietta to Mandaluyong. So, it proves that the woman was not dropped off in Pasay)

The police said they can file charges against the alleged victim.

“Pwede namin kasuhan ng babae nito na perjury kasi she’s giving a false statement… Napatunayan natin ang pangyari hindi sa Pasay Area. Pwede pumunta yung ating motor taxi driver doon, siguro it's either sa area ng Quezon City or dito sa area na ng Taguig,” Pabonita said.

(We can charge this woman with perjury because she gave a false statement… We proved that this did not happen in the Pasay Area. Our motor taxi driver can go to the area of Quezon City or in the area of Taguig)

PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group Cyber Response Unit Chief Police Colonel Jay Guillermo said the woman may also be charged with cyber libel for posting a false allegation on social media.

“Ang importante di siya mawala sa online or may screengrab niya o mai-record niya na meron ganito, pwede gamitin yun. Kailangan may ebidensya ka, umaabot [ang validity] yan ng 6 years to 12 years pagka napatunayan yan ng korte,” said Guillermo.

(What’s important is that it doesn’t disappear online, or there’s a screengrab or record that there was something, we can use that. There needs to be evidence, it can last from 6 to 12 years [in validity] if the court can prove it) — Jiselle Anne Casucian/BAP, GMA Integrated News