Taxi driver in dragging incident allowed to post bail

MANILA, Philippines - The cab driver who was accused last November of robbing a female passenger and then dragging her for a few meters was allowed by a court to post bail while charges filed against him remains pending. In a report aired over QTV 11's Balitanghali, Riza Reyes on Tuesday said the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 85 allowed taxi driver Primitivo Sarmiento to post bail for the estafa (fraud), illegal detention, and kidnapping cases filed against him. According to Inspector Roberto Razon of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Criminal Investigation Unit Group (CIDG) there was no hard evidence that could press the suspect for the kidnapping charges filed against him by victim Valerie (not her real name) as she was able to free herself from Sarmiento during the dragging incident. "There is [none] really, all the elements of kidnapping was not present. The victim extricated herself from the taxi. Parang ni-liberate niya yung sarili niya in order to get out," Razon said. The report said Sarmiento has already paid P33,000 which constitutes part of the P200,000 bail bond required by the court. However, the suspect will remain under the custody of the police as he is facing separate charges of robbery, resistance to persons in authority, usurpation of authority, and driving without license before the Manila Trial Court. "Kinakailangan niya rin pong ayusin yon at piyansahan po bago siya i-release natin sa custody [He needs to post bail for that case before we release him]," Razon said. Sarmieto is currently detained at the Camp Caringal in Quezon City. Last December, police filed charges of estafa (fraud), grave coercion, serious physical injuries and kidnapping against Sarmiento, a resident of Muñoz, Quezon City, in connection with the taxi dragging incident last Nov. 22. Meanwhile, the prosecutor handling Sarmineto’s case said the decision of the court to allow the suspect to post for bail is beyond his control. The camp of Valerie, when sought for a comment, refused to give their side given the pendency of the case. - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV