Pedicab driver charged over robbery-killing of young boy

MANILA, Philippines — A pedicab driver was charged before the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Thursday with robbery with homicide for killing a 12-year-old boy to rob him of his earnings last year. Charged was Armindo T. Alibay, 19, a resident of 1199 Tambakan Road 4, in Maypajo, Caloocan City. Assistant City Prosecutor Evelyn M. Brul-Cruz said no bail was set for the provisional liberty of Alibay. Police homicide investigators arrested Alibay in February 2007 after witnesses pointed to him as the killer of Ruben B. Canete, a Grade II pupil, and resident of 551 Pampanga St., Gagalangin, Tondo, Manila. The boy was found floating on Estero de Vitas in Tondo, Manila. A witness, identified as Anthony B. Rama, told investigators that he was with Alibay on the night of February 25, 2007 when the accused tried to bully Canete into turning over to him the P700 the boy earned from selling plastic materials. Rama said that later that night, Alibay followed the victim to a condemned building near Divisoria and that he saw the two grappled for the money and Alibay striking the boy in the head then shoving him into the heavily polluted creek. He further claimed he did not immediately report the incident to the police because he was afraid of Alibay. - GMANews.TV