Driver involved in ‘gas-and-run’ incident in QC apprehended, to be charged with estafa
The suspect involved in a "gas-and-run" incident at a gas station in Quezon City has now been apprehended and is set to face estafa charges from police.
According to a report by ABS-CBN News, the driver is now in police custody and is expected to explain why he allegedly drove off without paying for the P5,196 worth of fuel that had been pumped into his vehicle.
A person linked to the unit was earlier tracked by the authorities from the La Loma Police Station. However, the individual, who resides in Camarin, Caloocan, asserted that he was not the one driving the vehicle, as he had stopped using it when he acquired his own unit.
Investigators found that the vehicle had already been sold by its original owner and that its current operator had claimed to know the identity of the suspect.
"So napag-alaman namin na last na dito pumunta sa area ng North Caloocan, so na-identify na naman [namin] sino [ang] may-ari, tapos na-identify namin kung sino ‘yung sumalo kasi nabenta na ng unang may-ari ‘yung sasakyan at na-identify na rin namin ‘yung driver," said PLt. Col. JL Aguirre.
"Yung driver niya raw po ‘yung sinasabi niya na huling nag-drive at pupunta sa La Loma Police Station. Gusto niya ma-meet din ‘yung gasoline boy, magso-sorry po yata siya, ‘yun po pagkakasabi sa akin. Sa amin naman po ay sasampahan namin siya ng kaso," he added.
Authorities are now preparing to file an estafa case against the driver.
The incident comes as the Philippines is currently facing severe fuel price hikes as a result of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Iran had closed the Strait of Hormuz to most traffic, cutting off about a quarter of the world's sea-borne oil supply. This, in retaliation for the continuous attacks from the US and Israel, which began on Feb. 28, 2026.
