Arrested 'taxi driver' who robbed, raped passengers linked to killing of Papadom's widow

The man arrested for allegedly robbing five female passengers and even raping one of them was linked to the killing of the widow of late reggae musician Dominic "Papadom" Gamboa, a television report said Friday.

In GMA News TV’s Balitanghali broadcast, reporter Mariz Umali said the suspect was positively identified as the one behind the death of Teng Santaromana Gamboa, killed a few minutes after leaving her office in February.

According to the report, the suspect’s real name is not Ricky Ramos as he earlier claimed but Nitro Izon. Ramos is the name of his uncle. He is also reportedly using the alias Zengki Izon. 

The television report said the suspect was arrested based on the Philippine National Police’ case management analysis system and a check on the pattern of incidents.

Izon was arrested Thursday in San Miguel, Bulacan based on a warrant of arrest on the robbery holdup cases he is facing in Makati and Manila.

His victims, including the female passenger he allegedly raped, identified Izon as the one who either stole their taxi or robbed them of their personal belongings.

Based on evidence and testimony of victims, Izon was allegedly involved in seven cases each of car theft and robbery-holdup. He also has three homicide cases and three rape cases, the report said.

The suspect’s alleged modus operandi was to steal taxi units from drivers aged 55 years old and above from around 2:00 to 5:00 .m.

He will then reportedly use the stolen vehicle to victimize female passengers, usually call center employees.

As for Gamboa, who was also working in a call center company, her body found in a dump near Kalayaan Avenue, Makati at around 2:45 a.m. on February 12. The victim had a gunshot wound in the head.

Gamboa allegedly resisted when she was robbed inside the taxi unit which was allegedly earlier stolen by Izon, the report said. A DNA test on Gamboa’s blood sample matched the blood found inside the stolen taxi unit.

Her husband Papadom Gamboa is the vocalist of the music band Tropical Depression, who died of kidney failure in 2013. -- VVP, GMA News