Hold-up men & Ermita Police

Scanning for those 3 croooks in the police portfolio.

Earlier today (Jan. 7) I was at Ermita police community precinct near Rizal Park and Manila Hotel. Along with other passengers of a jeep where a hold-up robbery took place, I scanned the police's portfolio of known robbers, thieves, con-men, and name it all. But nothing. All the three hold-uppers who preyed on us were apparently still unidentified by the authorities... kahit na mukhang sanay na sanay nang mang-holdap yung mga iyon sa Bonifacio Drive in Port Area.

The robbery happened at 5:45 am, as we were plying Bonifacio Drive onboard a Pasay-Pier route jeep. At Gate1, the hold-uppers did their crime. At Gate2, they jumped off the jeep, leaving us with a threat not to report to the police.

It was a first-time experience for me. Thank God, nobody was stabbed or shot. 3 passengers lost their bags. Mine was secured, I didn't lost anything. Apparently the robbers were after just one passenger. Tinitiktikan pala nila yung target nilang isang babaeng guro.

Nanlaban pa yung babae, ayaw ibigay yung bag. Pero tinutukan siya ng kutsilyo. Akala ko sasaksakin siya. Buti hindi. Sobra ang hagulhol niya the whole time, kahit sa police station.

Though I didn't lost anything, I froze... my body was shaking the whole time, even after two hours since the incident. During the hold-up I did a sign of the cross, it was difficult because I can't move. I can't do anything else, but pray.

Sadly, police reaction (those from the PCP and the Manila District Traffic Enforcement Unit in Gate 4 where we headed first) was not impressive, treating the matter as if it's a normal thing. They were not even alerted and that's lamentable. It is as if they know that crooks are thriving in their beat and they are okay with it. 

I've heard from fellow beat reporters in Manila that some of these supposed police have certain "kita" or "porsyento" from the crooks' robbery business, though no tangible proof has been found. But see, Bonifacio Drive is infamous for being a hold-up/pickpocket hub, despite the presence of Ermita Police Station PCP and MDTEU in the area.