Metro Manila, Philippines – Theft, robbery, and homicide hound the busy streets of Ermita at the heart of Manila, but residents would rather keep mum for their safety.
The tourist district has been home for RR Santiago and Annaliza Amarod for a number of years. They said they have learned to live dangerously.
“Iba-iba ho ‘yung nangyayaring krimen dito… Dukutan, nagkakatumbahan sa labas ganyan,” Santiago told NewsWatch Plus.
[Translation: Crimes abound here… Pickpocketing, shooting.]
“Sanay na po kasi hindi naman tayo baguhan makakita ng ganu’n… Parang patay-malisya lang tayo kunyari wala tayong nakita,” he shared.
[Translation: I’m used to it, not new to witnessing crimes… I feign ignorance as if I didn’t see anything.]
Amarod echoes the experience.
“Nakikita namin sila nang personal kahit nga sa harapan namin pero hindi namin – sanay na rin kami din. Hindi na namin pinapansin,” she said.
[Translation: We see the crimes personally, some even happen in front of us. But we’re used to it. We just ignore it.]
Not all, however, turn a blind eye.
The tricycle is home to Lisa Tejamo, and she admitted that her “home” is unsafe.
“Marami po dito pero ‘di mahuli-huli magnanakaw dito… ‘Yung anak ko madalas manakawan ng cellphone,” she said.
[Translation: There are many pickpockets and snatchers but they don’t get caught… My child’s phone often gets stolen.]
“Natatakot po ako kasi dito lang po kami natutulog. Wala naman po kaming magawa kasi wala kaming pang-ano sa bahay,” she went on.
[Translation: I am scared because we sleep in a tricycle but we can’t do anything as we can’t afford to pay rent.]
The fears of Ermita residents and the ordinary Filipino in general, somehow, may have reached the country’s leadership.
In an interview ahead of his State of the Nation Address on July 22, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said, “The economy, how is it doing? Criminality, how are we doing on that? How are we doing in the other problems, social problems that we are facing such as drugs, such as the different threats that have been coming to us.”
The president’s official residence in Malacanang is just a stone’s throw away from Ermita. And in the country’s capital, official records show the tourist district has the highest number of crimes.
Bars, clubs, hotels, and amusement areas are open until the wee hours. Unfortunately, these places are dens of criminals targeting visitors, including foreign tourists.
“Mayro’n tayong binabantayan na eight focus crimes sa Philippine National Police kung saan kasama dito ‘yung theft and robbery na nakita natin sa area ng Ermita. Ito ‘yung most prevalent,” Manila Police District (MPD) spokesperson PMaj. Philipp Ines said.
[Translation: We are monitoring the Philippine National Police’s eight focus crimes which include theft and robbery that are prevalent in Ermita.]
According to the 2023 Global Organized Crime Index, funded by the United States and the European Union, the Philippines ranked 25th among 193 nations when it comes to crimes.
Based on Pulse Asia’s survey released this year, 11 percent of Filipinos say fighting crimes is “urgent.”
The police said they will continue conducting patrols, while random checkpoints will remain. They are also asking for public support on information that would lead to the arrest of criminals.
The Manila police have posted an information campaign on its YouTube channel to raise awareness on the modus of criminals.
They have advised the people to be on alert, observe their surroundings, and immediately report a crime to authorities.
Despite the high number of crimes in Ermita, the Manila police pointed out their 97 percent case accomplishment rate.
“Masasabi nating safe ang area ng Ermita, at hindi tumitigil ang ating kapulisan. Sabi nga natin, kung hindi natin mapigilan na gumawa ng krimen ang isang indibidwal – kasi hindi natin saklaw ang kanilang isip – nakikita naman natin na mabilis ‘yung ating aksyon diyan. Naa-identify natin sila, naaaresto natin sila, at naisasampa natin ‘yung kaukulang reklamo sa kanila,” Ines said.
[Translation: We can say that Ermita is safe, and the police force is not letting its guard down. If we cannot prevent an individual from committing a crime – because we don’t know their thoughts – you can see that our action is swift. We identify them, arrest them, and file necessary complaints against them.]
Ermita residents are still hoping for a safer tomorrow.
“Ang gusto lang namin mangyari ‘yung tumahimik ‘yung lugar namin kasi ‘pag gumawa ng krimen dito, nadadamay kami lalo na nandito ‘yung mga anak ko, damay kahit hindi sila, nadadamay sila, nahuhuli sila,” Amarod said.
[Translation: What we want is peace in our place because when one commits a crime, we get tangled in the criminal’s mess, especially my children. Even though they are innocent, they sometimes get the blame and get caught.]
“Tanging hiling lang po ng mga taga-rito maiwasan ho ‘yung mga ganyan, mga away-away,” Santiago said.
[Translation: Residents would just here is for fights to end.]
Tejamo, meanwhile, wished: “Gusto po namin maalis kami dito para makaiwas kami sa kinatatakutan namin sa lugar na ‘to.”
[Translation: We want to get out of here so we can avoid this dangerous place.]
