A 29-year-old transport network vehicle service (TNVS) driver from Makati is recovering in the hospital after he was stabbed and robbed by two men who posed as passengers in Pampanga.

Police identified the victim as Julian Ceazar Payoyo. The suspects booked a ride with him through an app in Taytay, Rizal

“Sa Taytay, binook siya doon. Nag-book itong mga suspek nagpapahatid sa Pampanga,” PMaj. Reginal Turla, chief of the Macabebe Police Station, said.

According to Payoyo’s partner, Naureen Rambacal, the victim even messaged her before picking up the suspects at past 2 a.m. on August 19, 2025.

“Alas dos po nung sinend niya yung booking. Lagi kong sinasabi sa kanya na kapag malayo ang booking i-send niya sa akin para kung may mangyari, alam namin saan siya nag-drop. Nag-reply pa po yung mga suspek na ‘mag-aayos lang po kami ng gamit,’ kaya akala namin okay at legit. Hindi po namin alam na may pagtatangka pala,” she said.

Police said the suspects made the driver go around different parts of Pampanga before reaching Barangay Consuelo in Macabebe. There, they stabbed him with a knife, hit him with a gun, and threatened him before taking his vehicle.

“Pagdating ng Pampanga, madaling araw na raw iyon. Inikot-ikot siya sa mga dike, pumunta ng San Luis, Candaba, hanggang sa pinasok na dito sa Consuelo, Macabebe. Kinarnap na yung sasakyan niya. Nung nakita niyang may mga tao sa dike, ibinangga niya para gumawa ng pansin pero sinasaksak na siya sa loob. Tapos pinalo pa ng baril sa ulo,” Turla added.

Witnesses saw the commotion after the vehicle crashed and caused barangay officials and residents to respond.

“May nag-report na parang binubugbog lang ang tao, nag-aaway sa loob ng sasakyan. Nung rumesponde kami, may nakita kaming pulang sasakyan at doon namin nakita yung duguang biktima. Yung dalawang suspek nagtago sa damuhan. Pinakilala ko muna bago dalhin sa ospital, at siya mismo ang nag-identify na sila ‘yung sumaksak at pumalo ng baril sa kanya,” Barangay Councilman Jay Guevarra said.

With the help of residents, authorities arrested the two suspects. They recovered a replica pistol, a hand grenade, a cellphone, and various IDs from them.

The suspects are now under police custody and are facing charges of carnapping and frustrated homicide.

Payoyo is still recovering in the hospital, as of this writing.