Crime In Ph - Personal Experience?

[Tom in Texas]

A lot is posted about crime and corruption in the PH.What personal (you, your spouse or immediate family) experiences have you encountered in the PH with serious crime... assault, theft, burglary, etc.,...? [Note - this thread is not about dating scams, kano prices, taxi overcharge and other nuisances]... when, where and how did it occur?... in hindsight, what do you believe you could have done to have avoided the event?... what changes, if any, have you made due to the event?... do you feel this was an event specific to some vulnerability in the PH, or could it have just as easily have occurred in your home country?

[Mr Lee]

A lot is posted about crime and corruption in the PH.What personal (you, your spouse or immediate family) experiences have you encountered in the PH with serious crime... assault, theft, burglary, etc.,...? [Note - this thread is not about dating scams, kano prices, taxi overcharge and other nuisances]... when, where and how did it occur?... in hindsight, what do you believe you could have done to have avoided the event?... what changes, if any, have you made due to the event?... do you feel this was an event specific to some vulnerability in the PH, or could it have just as easily have occurred in your home country?

I have never had a real problem while walking around many parts of the Philippines even late at night, but had a few that could have turned out bad if I was not alert.In Cebu one night late while walking home from a bachelor party around midnight, I was approached from behind by a motorcycle on the sidewalk on Gen Max and I waited until he got right on top of me and spun around with a beer bottle in my left hand and my right hand ready to grab the driver throat which shocked him badly enough that he may have peed his pants because he thought he was sneaking up on me and probably thought I was drunk because of the beer in my left hand, and since I knew he would have his hands on the handle bars and I just hoped he did not have a smaller rider on the back with a gun whom I could not see, which I was lucky enough that he did not, so he left quickly because I was prepared and showed no fear and it could have easily been solved by my not being so stupid as to walk around that area alone that late at night, so a taxi would have solved the problem, but I wanted exercise at the wrong time of night and after the incident I then got into a cab the rest of the way home, so as to not press my luck if the guy came back with a gun, or friends, or both, and was thus more prepared to deal with me the second time around. Also once in CDO walking around after leaving a night festival, a person grabbed my arm with intent to gain control and again I shocked them with a quick arm twist, so I would say just being prepared and aware of ones surroundings would keep most of us out of trouble and knowing how to deal with issues would solve the other few times, but most of all not walking around late at night down dark streets would have avoided any of problems in the first place.Use common sense, avoid conflicts with locals, do not deal in large amounts of cash or wear expensive items or be known to carry a lot of money, and we all should be safe. 

[Jake]

Besides the normal extended family scams, I was involved in a traffic altercation with another Filipino driver. It was far from serious, just a minor fender bender which all the damage done on his shiny owner type jeep. He just stuck his nose out too far while I was doing forty on the main road. This was located near Batangas City, Luzon. From a distance, I figured he would wait for cross traffic to clear before he makes his right turn onto the main road. Upset that he hit me at my right rear wheel, I slammed it back in reverse and whip my jeep wrangler forward to where I was looking down on him directly from my window. I was already shouting at him (in English) even before I rolled it down. And then I noticed his 45 auto tucked in his belt and a Traf Com sticker (PNP traffic command) on his windshield. But I was so livid that I continue to use profanity but he probably did not understand me. Judy stepped down and asked in Tagalog for his ID but was repeatedly denied. He took off with his colorful lights mounted in the front completely damaged. At that corner, Judy canvassed several people who witness the accident but all of them refused to testify on our behalf. We finally left the scene with Judy (to my surprise) rolling down her window and shouted to the group of men refusing to testify -- "using the P word...........walang bayag! (puke all of you, you have no balls).Later we found out that PNP officer was only a "police putola". A non significant member who only collects tong. Anyway, we did not use that route anymore, fearing that I could get "salvaged" in revenge.Relieved -- Jake

[Jake]

Another incident involved one of the indigenous people of Mindoro called the Mangyans. Judy and I were unloading our merchandise from the back of our jeep wrangler and noticed that a short native tribesman was seen rummaging through our stuff. The tail gate was wide open as we were preparing to sell customized T-shirts along the dirt road. I cautiously approached him because they have been known to carry long bolo knifes when visiting Puerto Galera during the weekends.And sure enough he did carry one but fortunately he was completely inebriated. I gingerly pulled him out and proceeded to escort him up that muddy hill towards the PNP station. I wouldn't dare try todisarm him. As mountain (bundook) folks, that bolo is their livelihood and their badge of honor. Anyway, he seemed docileenough as I stumbled through the mud, practically carrying his full weight. The locals finally assisted me and took him offmy hands. I was told later that he and a few other Mangyans like to celebrate during the weekend after a long trek comingdown from the mountains. He was definitely a weekend warrior.Respectfully -- Jake