I love December so it makes me very upset that the season of giving is also the peak season for muggers and bounty hunters.
It's just really sad that in a third world country like ours, a lot feel that they need to resort to theft/robbery to give their families a nice noche buena. And then there are those who just take advantage of the fact that many people are carrying extra money because it's December. I've always been vigilant since everyone knows that Manila is a 24/7 purge zone, and it's worse because of the holiday season. But last week, I was also victimized.
Last Friday morning I was torn between braving the anticipated traffic by bringing a car or commuting. Having a lazy Friday, I went for the latter and started walking at around 6:20am. I passed through my usual route, a compound that has a shortcut going to the main road. On a narrow street, there was a guy riding a motorcycle on the other end. I had this instinct but tried not to mind him since he looked much like any other resident in that compound. I thought I was just unearthing my paranoia thinking I would get mugged in a residential area under broad daylight. But then he revved his engine towards me and hooked my neck with his arm saying "Hold up 'to". There was no one else around. He grabbed my bag and started driving away and my reflexes suddenly did the contrary of what I was telling everyone to do when they get mugged, that they should just give up their things and not risk their life. When I saw the man trying to drive away, I thought about my phones, the ATM cards I had to cut and request, my license and other IDs that I would lose (I processed all of that in a matter of seconds). So I did a stupid but brave thing that I don't and probably won't regret, I lunged forward and grabbed a hold of my bag and let the motorcycle drag me until the straps of my bag snapped and my things were all over the pavement. I think my right leg hit a sharp edge because I was lacerated to the flesh. The man got away since I started screaming and caught residents' attention. When the neighbors found me, my leg was bleeding and they helped me limp my way back home, and thank God, with all my things secured. But with a minor injury, I had to be brought to the ER for stitches/sutures. I underwent minor operation and will heal in a week's time. Of all things that would make me cry, it was when the doctor confirmed I'll have protruding scars (haha!) But standing up to a jerk like that, it was worth it.
We reported the incident and the other day, we were able to apprehend the suspect by tracing the owner of the phone that was dropped along with my other things. I'd have to admit that although our local police disappoints me due to my avid viewing of US crime series, what transpired was a really cool follow-up operation since I had to sit behind tinted windows and identify the suspect from a distance before we enter his work place. Luckily, during the incident I had the chance to stare at the man's face that it registered quickly. And for the first time in history, my memory did not fail me. They asked me to pinpoint the suspect among three other subjects and I just knew exactly who to point. Long story short, he was denying at first, but his alibis had a lot of gray areas that I had to dissect his statements, invalidate his arguments, and though I do not have any background in criminal law, "lawyer" him (haha). But when we were at the fiscal's office he confessed to me and begged for my forgiveness saying that he doesn't want to spend Christmas behind bars since he has three toddlers waiting for him at home. The guy looks decent that you wouldn't think it's something he normally does. So at the fiscal's office we were encouraged to do a "settlement", which of course, involves money. He had to pawn his motorcycle on the same day to pay for all the damages so that I would withdraw the case. I filed desistance thereafter. He was re-sent to the HQ to be detained until a release order was made, but the law is really in the hands of God. After I forgave him thinking that he probably does not deserve to spend Christmas in custody and away from his family, his records at the HQ showed he has four pending cases and an arrest warrant from different complainants. Everything he said to me was all an act. The verdict: I can never work in the justice department. For a woman who claims to have a strong personality, I am too soft and compassionate. Now my desistance is void and the only way to get myself out of the case is to not attend the hearings for it to be dismissed and to let the other complainants handle it on their own. I don't know if it's wrong to withdraw myself from the case for safety reasons. He knows my address since he has a copy of the desistance document, and once he posts bail he can always come after me. I never imagined I'd be spending Christmas with an issue like this. But anyway, he will probably be in jail for months and I feel really sorry for his family but justice shall be served.
This serves as a reminder to everyone else. It's a beautiful but sometimes evil world we live in.
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