Police said that one of the suspects was even stabbed by one of the victims after fighting back.

Officials of Manila Police District (MPD) and Metro Manila Association of Schools Securities Organization (MMASSO) believe that the suspects are responsible for a string of street and jeepney holdups on Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, V. Mapa St., and Sevilla Bridge, Sta. Mesa; and Legarda Street and España Boulevard, Sampaloc.

MPD station 8 deputy station commander Chief Inspector Mike Mojares identified the suspects as Richard Alhambra, Leopoldo Valdez, Gary Tenorio, and Jazel Tumbado.

Alhambra, who was stabbed by one of his victims during a scuffle, said he did it because he did not have money to buy milk for his baby.

Mojares said Alhambra grabbed the cellular phone of Romeo Evangelista III, 20, a second year B.S. Criminology student at the University of Manila, on Gastambide St., Sampaloc, Manila while aboard a jeepney at the eastbound lane of Nagtahan-Legarda Flyover, Sta. Mesa, Manila at around 8:30 p.m. Monday.

Police said that Evangelista resisted and fought Alhambra. Moments later, they tried to stab each other.

Probers said that the commotion caught the attention of motorcycle-riding operatives of MPD station 8.

Both were taken to the De Ocampo Memorial College (DOMC) Hospital for treatment.

Alhambra was brought to the police station after undergoing treatment while Evangelista is in critical condition.

Valdez, Tenorio, and Tumbado were arrested after victimizing Aiza Alvarez, 20, a student of Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)-Sta. Mesa campus; and Catherine Pabilonia, 19, a former student of Mary Chiles College and working as events coordinator, at 9 p.m. Monday.

Police said that the victims were on board a Pasig-bound jeep on the eastbound lane of V. Mapa Street, Sta. Mesa, Manila when the robbery happened.

The three suspects were caught during follow-up operations by MPD station 8 operatives.