David Soterio San Jose thought it was just an ordinary day for him. Unfortunately, he was in for a bad day when he almost fell victim to modus operandi in a bus he was riding.
Screengrab from David Soterio San Jose Facebook post
According to San Jose, he was riding a bus home from the Mall of Asia when 5 men got in the bus and positioned themselves on the available seats. One of the men sat beside San Jose, and minutes later, exclaimed and pointed at something on San Jose’s shoulder. It was spit, and he knew then that the men were attempting to steal from him or any other passenger in the vehicle.
Good for San Jose who was able to keep his cool and just looked them in the eyes while holding tight to his things. He had the presence of mind to putting his phone in his bag and ignoring the men even when they started tapping his shoulder attempting to coax him into addressing the spit.
Screengrab from David Soterio San Jose Facebook post
The men eventually moved on and got bored of him and moved on to do some different modus on other passengers. One of which got some of her stuff stolen and the men got off the bus and ran away. The victim was encouraged to call the police, which he did so.
Ending his post, he warns people to be careful of their surroundings and learning the “art of deadma”.
Read his full post here:
"July 18, 2018 was a special day as was it so. However, it was made more meaningful until this happened. First, I just want to give praise to Jesus for this. This was all His doing — he saved me!
Sumakay ako ng bus pauwi papuntang MOA at sasabay ako sa kuya ko to visit a cousin’s wake. So from Kamuning to MOA ang sinakyan ko. Nakaupo ako sa 2nd row, right side of the bus (near the bus entrance). All was well, nagbabasa ako ng card, until we reached a stop near Kabayan Hotel.
Nagbaba si kuya ng mga pasahero at magsasakay din. Bago pa man makasakay ang mga sasakay, nagsabi si kuya driver sa ate na nasa unahan ko (1st row, right-most seat ng bus), “Itabi mo na ‘yung cellphone mo.”
Then, a group of 5 medium-built guys hopped in from the stop. One sat beside me and immediately after he positioned himself, he screamed “shit ano ‘to?” I looked at his right arm to find out what was, and the other guy from the group pointed at my left shoulder. May laway sa balikat ko. Na-modus ako, pakiwari ko. Pero pag kasi nandun ka sa moment na ‘yun, kakabahan ka pa rin.
Screengrab from David Soterio San Jose Facebook post
I kept calm and just looked them in the eye. My bag was on my lap and embraced it tight. Nilagay ko na ‘yung cellphone ko sa bag. All of them were saying and tapping me at the shoulder to take notice and do something about it. I think that’s their way of distracting you and their moment to take advantage of your situation. But I never did, and let that thing sit on my shoulder.
Bumagal na ang oras, it was just a short distance but was the longest minutes of my life. Hindi nila ako tinatananan hanggang sa pansinin ko ‘yung laway. Pero hinayaan ko lang. Eventually, they stopped talking to me. At nag-usap usap sila na in a dialect which I didn’t recognize. Later on, nag-tagalog na at sinabing “baka Koreano ‘to.” Sabay tinapik ako sa balikat ko ng katabi ko. Tinignan ko lang siya. Naramdaman ko ‘yung frustration nila. Binuksan ko ‘yung bag ko para kuhain ‘yung alcohol ko. Nag-spray ako sa kamay at sa balikat. Iniwasan ng katabi ko ‘yung ini-spray ko. Muli nilang hinawakan ‘yung balikat ko at ‘yung batok ko. Pero tinignan ko lang sila. After that, nilayasan nila ako. Lumipat na sila sa likod.
I didn’t know that they were so persistent of getting something from that trip and making that a success. Akala ko sa akin na matatapos ‘yung tagpong ‘yon. Pero matapos ang ilang sandali, ‘yung tatlo sa kanila paspasang bumaba ng bus sa Heritage. Nang-snatch na siguro sila. ‘Yung dalawa sa kanila, normal na lumalabas nang biglang sumisigaw ‘yung isang pasahero ng “cellphone ko, cellphone ko.” Hinarangan o ginitgit nila ‘yon at tumanggi sa paratang at sinabing nakatawid na sila (yung tatlong tumakbo).
Bumalik ‘yung nabiktima sa upuan niya pero hinikayat siyang habulin at isumbong sa mga pulis na nagpa-patrol sa area. So, bumaba na siya kasama ‘yung mga tropa niya.
Nag-usap usap ‘yung mga kapwa pasahero kong naiwan tungkol sa nangyari. Nung una, ayaw kong makisali. Pero maya maya, sinabi ko at pinakita ko na sa kanila na ako po ‘yung una nilang bibiktimahin sana. Pinakita ko ‘yung balikat kong may dura/laway habang nanginginig pa rin ako sa takot. Naramdaman ko ‘yung relief mula sa kanila pero at the same time, malungkot rin sila na may nabiktima pa rin sa pangyayari.
Doble ingat po tayo, guys. Sobrang talamak na talaga ang mga ganitong modus.
Morale of the story: ‘Wag pansinin ang mga kawatan. They aim to distract you and that’s the thing you should not allow to happen. Don’t give them the chance to take advantage of your situation. Otherwise, things may get worse. Learn the art of deadma.
Pictured here were the scenes after it happened. Mula sa pinangyarihan nito (Kabayan Hotel) hanggang sa MOA, nariyan lang ‘yung laway. Gusto kong mag-finger heart sa nalagpasan kong pagsubok."
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