I went to the airport yesterday riding a jeepney.
My niece and I were sitting right across from each other. We were sitting just at the back of the jeepney driver because we knew that we were probably one of last people to get off the jeepney on that route.
We took the jeepney from Bajada, so it was quite a ways to Buhangin area. So the jeepney kept stopping, either to get passengers or let the passenger get off. Just then at the Bajada bridge just past Abreeza mall, 5 guys get in the jeepney. I did not notice that these people were together until somebody said later. 3 of them seated next to me, the other 2 were sitting across the other 3, just 2 people seated next to my niece.
The guy next to me keep moving and I felt uneasy. He keeps covering his hands with his backpack. I felt something was going on with the guy. I just felt that his hand was just so near to my cell phone. My cell phone at that time was inside my pocket, which could be an easy access for the guy to get. I took my cell phone off from my pocket and I was just holding it. I was also hugging my purse. Our jeepney was starting to get crowded already.
After those guys got in the jeepney, next stop a lady got in, she had her purse and groceries with her. She was seated next to one of those 5 guys. Our jeepney kept going, then finally when we reached like 2 miles or so near the airport those 5 guys got off. Maybe like 3 minutes passed, by the lady that had the grocery bag became frantic and declaring that her cell phone was stolen. The older lady and her teenager kid were saying maybe one of those guys got your phone? They said they didn’t see it, but possibly. I think there were 6 of us that were left behind. So I told the lady to go to the police station and report the incident. I could see that she was really shaking. She said that she doesn’t know where to go because she’s not from here. I told here just ask the traffic enforcer that’s directing the traffic, and he would tell here where the police station was in the area. She decided to wait to report near where she’s staying because she knows some policemen there. Me and the other passengers just said okay then.
Right before riding the jeepney. Me and my niece were at the LBC shipping something. The cashier there told us that the day before we came, they had some incidents there. She had plenty of customers there and all of them where busy writing info on the papers and the cashier was busy encoding the info on to the computer. Apparently one of those customers put her bag down on the bench. The bench location was not far from the entrance door. I guess the customer had some expensive equipment that needed to ship and she was just filling out the paper for the shipping info. Nobody noticed that somebody took the bag. So the customer wanting to get the bag and to give to the cashier for shipment, the bag was gone. So the customer was really crying. The cashier said that the police was there at her office for awhile investigating. It’s kind of scary and annoying.
It’s really not normal to have here that kind of incident. I’m pretty sure the mayor and the vice mayor will not be happy hearing a lot of like that happening here. I’m still thinking that we are still safe here compared to other cities. I know when I was in Manila and Cebu before, I can’t even talked on my cell phone inside the jeepney, LRT or the bus. I had to hide my cell phone and I have to really hold my purse so tightly. My friend also told me not to wear any good jewelry. Unless we will be going to Makati area. I am still pretty secure living here in Davao City, even with some occasional incidents happening here.
I’m just warning everybody here that no matter where you are just don’t leave your stuff unattended. Lots of bad people nowadays. They just want to earn money the easy way. They don’t want to work extra hard. They just want to steal. So just keep an eye always on your surroundings.
Stay Safe!!!
Thank you for reading, Julie!
Good article ,but by all means if they take anything or ask for it like your cell phone give it to them.Most robbers here dont value your life and will kill you.For the women riding the jeepney ,never wear jewery..
Hi maynard handy – For sure. If they want the stuff just give it to them. I know they would kill even just for Php20. Yep just jeopardize your life over the material stuff.
Good reminders for everybody there. Thank you.
Have a great day!
Feyma,
You are very lucky they did not stag an armed hold up on the Jitney this is a common occurrence in most area of the Philippines and is one of the main reasons to have a private car
Even the Ceres buses are not immune to day time holdups in the provinces it happens about one a month in our area Maybe you have less problems in Davao with this as the major is know to enforce the law
Tom / Roxas City
Tom, this is a common occurrence in MOST areas of the Philippines??? That’s just bunk. I’d say that in your area, if buses are getting held-up on a daily basis, then your area has a problem. Although theft on jitney’s have been going on since the jitney was invented, it isn’t a given event. Everybody know that theft can happen everywhere or anywhere….on occasion. You make it sound like if you ride a jitney, you WILL get robbed! I’ve ridden many a jitney, bus, trike and every imaginable form of public transportation available in the RP, day and night. I’ve also taken my bicycle, motorcycle, and car everywhere. I have never had a problem nor have I ever witnessed a problem. I’m not saying I have never seen some shady characters though. Just bring your common sense with you when you venture out!
Randy,
Personally i don’t think you have really got a grasp of what Feyma and Tom are saying. Just because you have not had a problem doesn’t mean that it is not a common occurrence. Speak to most Filipino,s and they will tell you that it happens on a regular basis all over the Philippines.
Common sense isn’t going to help you if your jeepney or bus is being held up!
Hi Tom – Yes, we are so lucky on that. I think they are also scared if they do that they could end up in the ditch the next day.
I still think that Davao is much safer than other places here in the Philippines. Davao’s mayor & vice mayor known to be one of the tough leader here in the PI.
Thank you for stopping by!
I don’t beleive that Davao is so safe, people are just afraid to get kill behind their back if they do something bad. It is westerner country…but i still like it just need to be more carefull. But it is no place safe in this country.
Hi Feyma, Good article. It just brings it to people’s attention that like any big city anywhere in the world, someone is always on the lookout to steal something if you do not watch it properly. A good reminder to be ever watchful.
Hi John – Yes in the big city, people wanted to have something that they can’t afford. So in order to obtain it, they have to steal or do robbery. So sad.
Yep always on the lookout.
Good to see you here again John.
Have a great day!
Its so frustrating sometimes that such petty crime on public transportation has increased. Here in Manila, you hear about it every day! On one of our helper’s day off, she was riding the jeep back home and and someone reached in through the window to grab a woman’s cell phone which was attached to a strap around her neck but she was also holding on to it. They struggled but the passengers next to her helped her. The phone got broken though. Our helper says she never talks or texts on jeeps. She was really shaken poor thing.
My fiance and I ride Jeepneys in Manila on a regular basis and have never had an issue. I understand bad things can happen on a Jeepney or anywhere. It still gets down to basic common sense.
If you have a cell phone put it in your front pocket (if you can), or a place very difficult for a thief to get at. This type of crime happens in EVERY city in the world and always will.
Jeepneys are for the most part a very safe form of transportation. Just take precautions.
There are cases of theft every day on city buses throughout the United States, that doesn’t mean city buses are bad or dangerous to ride.
Feyma a very good posting
and yes u must all ways keep ur eyes about u always and look out for them that sit down next u mate i just heear last week about the girl over the street from us in the phil was robed on the street in manila and my mate here who as a girlfriend livng in manila was also robbed too but fayma u must look at why ok with all them poor livng on the street and the litttle kids with no hope and may be eating just one time a day and it is time sat down and did some think about it all it is so bad now it is out off hand .I dont kno why that dont have some think like thay do here to help us that yes cannot work like my self or for some that dont wont too and pay them a little every 4night and it see it over a bad spot if that did this it would help a lot off famliys out there doing it hard in the phill and woulds stop a lot off this bad thinking from happening mate……..peter martin tassie
always need to be aware, the jeeney can get very crowded and they are very close to you
Thank you, Ma’m for this article and warning. These kinds of people do not understand how much they are affecting the local area or the entire country’s image to potential visitors.
Most of all, how it affects the everyday lives of people living in their area. I think these people should be treated as terorrists.
That is a good reminder to both men and women, to be on the lookout for ‘petty’ thieves who take anything of value if given opportunity. It is a problem in any city, anywhere. Especially at ATM’s or when it is dark. My g/f in Cebu will not use her cell phone in certain places.
Sad to say, sometimes things can even be stolen from visiting family.. in one’s own house. I know this should not be so and it’s a shameful thing.. but it does happen, so leaving a purse unattended during a home-party can result in missing cash, jewelry, phone, laptop, etc. 🙁
Very useful post. It doesn’t matter what city or country you live in. Someone would love to rob you.
It took the theft of two wallets and a cell phone before I understood why Philippinos hold their phones in their hands whilst traveling on a jeepney.
Mrs Feyma,
Staying alert to your surroundings is the key to avoiding any problems and by all means surrender your property if a gun or knife is involved. Your property can always be replaced. Some of these people are desparate and would think nothing of taking a life. Thanks for the good reminder.
Hi Feyma
Your story reminds me about the first piece of advice I got when I told a friend I was going to visit the Philippines.
” If you are riding on a jeeepney by yourself and three guys get on, get off!”
what happen them same three guys take in mind to get off at the same time u do mate what then do u do and if it is out in no where with no one about……..peter martin tassie
Umm try running as fast as you can LoL
Then you get back on! 😉
While she was still there, my wife had her cell phone stolen 3 times. Twice while she was riding on public transportation. Once during a job interview at a call center. I tell her be glad it was just cell phones and not your life!
true, crimes can be everywhere in the world, more or less, and as my gf says Philippines is poor
There is is no law enforcement in the Philippines and the criminal know that, ohh yea, they have the PNP and some local police forces but most of them are useless.
Over the years I have traveled extensively around the Philippines and rarely have I seen a PNP officer, there are 135,000 PNP officers in the Philippines, where are they? On occasion if i do see one or more, there usually sitting under a canopy, smoking, txting, eating or at times sleeping. Their suppose to be working a check point of some kind and the only thing i have been them checking where the pretty filipinas walking by.
There is a lot of crimes unreported due to the distrust of the local police force, be it a Municipal or the local Barangay. If they do report it there is a chance of nothing being done about it. Example: My teenage sister in-law who lives in a Provence south of Ozamis was accosted by a man in her parents house, the guy tried to rape her but she able to fought him off. She reported it to the Barangay law enforcement, but nothing was done because the man who accosted her was the Barangays captains son.