“There’s a bright side for everything.”
This was what Filipinos commented after a carnapping attempt in Quezon City was foiled after heavy traffic along EDSA forced the suspect to abandon the stolen vehicle.
Reports said that a 44-year-old male was arrested after threatening a 64-year-old taxi driver with an ice pick and stealing the latter’s vehicle along Imperial Street in Barangay E. Rodriguez at Cubao, Quezon City on Sunday, February 1.
The suspect had flagged down the taxi along Mindanao Avenue, telling the driver he was headed to a bus terminal in Cubao.
Upon reaching Imperial Street, the suspect declared a hold-up and pointed an ice pick at the driver.
This forced the victim to disembark from the taxi. He later encountered a security guard on a motorcycle and asked for help in chasing the suspect.
Traffic halts escape
The suspect drove the taxi toward EDSA but was eventually trapped in heavy traffic. He abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot before being arrested along EDSA corner Ermin Garcia Street, near the NEPA Q-Mart.
“Nang naipit ang taxi sa traffic, inabandona ito ng suspek at nagpatuloy ang habulan on foot papuntang Q-Mart. Nagkataon namang may pulis tayo roon dahil area nila ‘yun,” Police Lt. Col. Joy Leanza, chief of the Cubao Police Station, said.
Police said the suspect admitted to the crime but claimed he did not intend to harm the driver. He also alleged that he asked the elderly victim to retrieve his mobile phone.
Authorities added that the suspect had been jailed in 2023 for an illegal drugs case. He now faces charges for violating the New Anti-Carnapping Act.
Online reactions
The incident drew jokes online, with some Filipinos finding traffic’s unexpected role in stopping the crime amusing.
“Advantage of traffic,” a Facebook user commented.
“For the first time, traffic caused something good,” another user said with a grinning emoji.
“Akalain mo ‘yun, nakatulong ‘yung traffic,” commented another Pinoy with a grinning-with-sweat emoji.
“Ito lang ang alam kong naging magandang epekto ng trapiko dito [sa] bansang ‘to,” quipped a different user with a laughing emoji.
“There’s a bright side for everything,” commented another user.
Metro Manila is notorious for its perennial traffic, with the 2025 TomTom Traffic Index ranking the Philippines as the most traffic-congested country in Asia and the second most worldwide.
Reports said that, compared with 2024 data, congestion rates in Manila have increased by 0.8%, resulting in drivers losing 143 hours in traffic.
