Rare upside to traffic: EDSA congestion stops carnapping attempt

February 4, 2026 – 10:52 AM

Vehicles crawl through traffic along EDSA in Makati on July 14, 2021.

(The STAR/Walter Bollozos)

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“There’s a bright side for everything.”

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

“For the first time, traffic caused something good,” another

user

said with a grinning emoji.

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.

user

Metro Manila

Reports

said that, compared with 2024 data, congestion rates in Manila have increased by 0.8%, resulting in drivers losing 143 hours in traffic.