I’ve been trying to go for a walk everyday now. Me and my niece and nephew like to go early in the morning. Sometimes we end up in Bankerohan. We like to head to that area because its quite a ways from our house and we feel like we are really sweating then. Really we like to go to Bankerohan too just for watching the people there so up and alive early in the morning. Seeing and hearing from people from different parts of the country really amazes me. I like to hear some dialects that I’m familiar with aside from Bisaya and Tagalog. I like to hear Ilonggo and Leyteno. I can converse in Ilonggo but just understand a bit of Leyteno, not all though. We also like to buy some Filipino snacks there. We have suki (our regular vendor lady) that we know there. She knows what we want to buy too.
One morning as we went on our routine we swung by somewhere at the bakery shop. We then thought of going to Bankerohan again. Since its a long ways there we decided to ride on the taxi. As soon as we entered the taxi, the driver told us that his friend a taxi driver too was just murdered like 2 hours before we came. We were shocked and went quiet for a few minutes. We then asked him where was that and he said not far from here. It really scared him and I can’t blame him. It could have been him instead of that other taxi driver. He said he is really scared but nothing he could do about it. He has to make money to feed his family. He said he has no room for being so scared because he doesn’t have other means to feed his family. He has a college student and high school student that rely on him. He said that he hope that the mayor now will be able to stop the killings just like what the former mayor did. He said that the criminals are slowly back now. He continued saying that some other crimes were starting to come back now. He thinks that maybe the criminals think since the new mayor was a lady that she’s not tough enough.
One thing I am proud of living here in Davao I can go anywhere in town and can still use my cell phone. And I can carry my purse with confidence that nobody will slash it with blade or with a knife. I can also shop anywhere and put my purse on top of the counter with other customer next to me. I remember when I went to Manila and my best friend would always remind me not to get my cell phone out from my pocket or somebody would take it. She also said not to ever let go of my purse, to just keep hugging it. Not unless we’re inside the fancy store. I told her wow, what a place you guys have here. She would always tell me “Feyma we are not in Davao City you know”. I am not bad mouthing Manila, but that is just the reality. Thievery is so high there. I hope that it will never be like that in Davao or other place here in Mindanao. We don’t want another bad name about Mindanao. We are called the war zone already. We want that people can go anywhere here in the city day and night with no fear.
I’ve even hear from other people that they think that crimes here in Davao were starting to climb up now. I am hoping that they’re wrong on that. I like it here that I can go to anywhere without fear even in the middle or past midnight. I just don’t want that its going to be bad here. I hope they track down the criminals the way they tracked down the Uso-Uso (jeepney type that runs fast) drivers. More on that on my next column.
I know that our mayor is not going to let her city get off the track. I’m pretty sure she will continue what they had started before when she was the vice mayor. They really are tough on the criminals. Which they should be. That is one thing the Dabawenyos are proud of.
Mabuhay!
Feyma,
Great article! So sorry to hear of the cabby’s friend though. As for the crime I am sure the new mayor will crack down on it given time.
Thank you again for your article.
Hi Darin Collins – Thank you. I think so too. I’m pretty sure she will crack down the criminals. She’s known to be tough.
Good to see you here again.
Take care!
Hi Feyma, when my friends from Manila visited here for the first time, they were shocked at how safe it was. He said in Manila, if I carried a camera like I did here, it’d be gone in a flash. We also walked around around 10pm. He said it seemed nobody had a worry.
I’m glad the uso-uso have been cracked down on. I’ve already almost been in 2 front seat accidents before from those. Hopefully now they’ll crack down on the taxi drivers who drive insanely. I know in Buhangin, sooo many motorcycles wrecked in one place on one road, but now the police are out there checking them.
I’m wondering why the Task Force is out with checkpoints though.. just recently. What’s that about?
Gun ban
Hi Gary Covington – Not sure about that.
Hi Jawz – Yes, it really shocked people from other place to see how we people from Davao just carry our cell phones, camera and wallets just in view of other people. I know in Manila and Cebu you can’t do that.
They really cracked down on the uso uso drivers now. I’ve been going to Toril area lately. Wow, on the way there the traffic enforcers are really cracking down on them. Oh yeah we have crazy taxi drivers here too. They think they are on a race. Same with the motorcycles. They think they can squeezed in between cars. Really crazy.
The task force were out checking from time to time. Thats not new.
Hi feyma ,when i was last there we were told of a cab driver that was murdered in gadalupe village lanang and that was why they had a security gaurd box put at the entry to the estate ,it is sad that a man who is only trying to do his job and take care of his family should be killed just going to work , my wife says that in tagum city she has been riding the bus and sen dead people on the side of the road , the law has to be strong and come down on these criminals hard when they are caught ,i see jawz has a comment on taxi drivers when we were coming back from sm my wife actually had a go at one driver who was more interested in his walkman cd than the road bit scary for an aussie in fact the traffic is scary ,toot toot toot oops getting a bit close there ,i must say though i only saw two accidents when i was there one was a rea r ender really small ,but the other invoved a motorcycle unfortunately i think the rider died didnt look good as we went past any way cmon mayoress of davao make the streets safe and get the tourists a commin it can only benefit davoa and mindanao
in general
chris
Hi chris – Thats not good to hear. Yeah really sad to hear about a father, brother anyone thats trying to support the family and being murdered. It would be scary for anyone seeing somebody being murdered.
Lots of crazy drivers here. Funny thing not a lot of accidents happened here. Thank God. I hate some motorcycle drivers. They would try to squeezed in between cars. As if they want to be sandwich. Really crazy ones.
I’m still feeling pretty safe here. We are not threatened or anything here. Thank God for our mayor.
Thank you Chris for your comment. Appreciate your thoughts. Nice to hear from you.
Take care!
It is unfortunate but I think crime is edging upwards in many places including New York City. Economy worsens, more desparate people, more crime. It is a shame really.
Hi Bob New York – Can’t argue with you.
Take care!
Hi Feyma:
Thank you for this story. This is a bit off topic, but just want to make sure I am understanding this. The previous serving Mayor, Rody Duterte, was prohibited from running again for Mayor under the Constitution, but is currently Vice to his Mayor daughter? My question is how is the current law of succession set up to deal with the situation so as not to circumvent the Constitution?
Hi John,
The Philippines doesn’t have a “law of succession”, they have to be elected by the people. Anyone can run for an elected position as per the Constitution. The only restriction is that a locally elected official can only hold the same position for only two terms succesively.
I don’t know if that answers your question.
Thanks, Rey. What you’re saying is, if, God forbid, something happens to the lady Mayor (I can’t remember her name) and she becomes incapacitated to perform her duties, or if she dies, her replacement would have to be elected by the people and not necessarily by the Vice Mayor? Of course, that would take time, but in order to maintain continuity, wouldn’t the Vice Mayor have to automatically assume the Mayor’s post in the interim?
Also, in theory, former Mayor Rody Duterte could be elected Mayor again in the event his daughter becomes incapacitated because the election of his daughter whom he would be replacing would not count as a third successive term since there is a break in-between?
Hi John,
Sorry about that, i was really thinking about a monarchy law of succession. LOL
That’s quite a conundrum question you got there.
If we goes on how the filipinos does their business though, i think the former mayor could become eligible to run again if we base it on the precedence the SC and Comelec made to let ex-Pres. Erap to run for the presidency again last election
Hi Rey – Thank you for answering John’s questions.
Take care!
Hi Feyma,Very sorry to hear about that taxi driver! They are only trying to support their families. I hope there is a resolution to this episode!
Hi Joe – Definitely it is sad. I’m sure the mayor will do something about it.
Thank you for sharing here!
Take care!
hello feyma
wow i think the new mayor will be tested to see what tolerances she will have managing davao.i think the old mayor ruled with an iron fist.mabe the new mayor will have to prove she can handle the task. violance that once ruled davao was very bad in the past.lets hope this doesent happen again.
best wishes to the new mayor.the rest is in gods hands
salamat feyma
Hi Ron – I think so. But I heard from people that she’s tough also and would not tolerate bad behavior. I’ve seen some comments on TV that she’s not allowing government employees just sitting around and doing nothing. I think shes trying to continue what her dad started, peace and order and cleanliness of Davao City.
Good to see you here again Ron.
Take care!
Hi Feyma,
Sad to hear about the Taxi driver.
It seems to me that the criminals are testing the new Mayors metal.
She now needs to come down with an Iron fist,to show them she is no soft touch,and i’m sure she will,as she has the reputation of being as tough as her Dad.
regards,Chas.
Hi Chas – Yes its really unfortunate for the taxi driver. I’ve heard a lot from people that knows the mayor that shes tough. I think she is too.
Nice to hear from you Chas.
Take care!
Hello Feyma.
Great article, this one. Very unfortunate for the taxidriver and his family. I am looking at the picture with durian doughnuts, have you tasted? I like durian and would love to taste the doughnuts.
Regards, Preben.
Hi Preben – Thank you… Yes I felt for the family too. Nope I haven’t tried it yet. Hey, common over again for a visit.
As always good to hear from you.
Take care!
I saw a viral video on youtube where a man was shot in an internet cafe by an alleged member of the dreaded DDS. Any comments on that?
DDS doesn’t shoot people in internet cafes.
Hi Feyma.
I feel sorry for the cabdriver. But here in Canada where I work as a long-haul truck driver, it goes worst every day. Statistic Canada brought out a new report were Vancouver BC is raising in the crime statistics. More crimes than in NY city.
And you no what? I was looking to me more often at home for the family. Looking in to city bus driver for Edmonton, Alberta where I live. Talked to some drivers and they said to me:”Search for crimes against city bus drivers on google. Holy moly. They get beaten up here. Not a job for me… Than I was looking into the “famous Greyhound company” (bus driver). Couple days later I got this idea, comes the story in the News that a passenger cut of an other passenger head with a butcher knife in a Greyhound bus coming from Winnipeg to Edmonton…. Holy grab….!
but as you said. Before we left Edmonton to get for our trip to the Philippines, we got phone calls from friends, relatives in the States:”Watch you wallet. They cut off your pants… Watch your eyeglasses. They steel them from your nose…. Watch yourself, Holger…. They shut or stab you in the back if you not watch and screen the area around you…..
Really weird was the stewardess. I can tell you… You know what she said before we left the plain? “Have a nice Holiday in the Philippines!,” with a really weird “nice” smile in her face.
That scared me more than all the “nice” advise from our friends. With the advice from our friends I must have: A bullit proof west, my wallet and my classes clued to my body. My camera clued to my hand….
You know, feyma. Life is life. We really can’t pretend us from everything.
Did you guys get the news from Tuson, Arizona this weekend? A 22 year old kid shot a Lady from the democrats in front of a supermarket. Killed some other people incl. a 9 year old girl.
So know we shut not go shopping anymore?
It’s all a crazy world out there…. and yes, I know what you meant.
best regards