Two alleged solvent inhaling minors stole cash from a jeepney driver along Taft Avenue in Manila Thursday.
The whole incident was shown in a viral video uploaded by Denmark Bernardo on Facebook, who witnessed the incident along Finance Road.
“Nung una akala ko mga nanghihingi lang talaga sila sa mga dumadaang jeep, pero sinitsitan ako ni kuyang pedicab driver na lumapit daw ako sa kanya at mag-ingat kasi mga snatcher daw ‘yun,” he said in his post.
(At first, I thought they were just begging for alms from jeepneys, but a pedicab driver called my attention and asked me to walk close to him and keep watch because those are snatchers.)
He said James Fernandez, the pedicab driver he was referring in his post, also revealed that the minors were hooked on solvents.
Bernardo said the driver advised him to upload the video in social media since he also wants the minors to be arrested.
Fernandez said local authorities have failed to remove the children off the streets even though they have been reported many times. In the video, he was seen trying to grab one of the kids but eventually released him after being advised to do so by some bystanders.
“Buti pa si kuya, ginagawa ‘yung tungkulin o trabaho ng iba. Ilang beses na daw ito nirereport pero di naman daw inaaksyunan, kaya ayan patuloy pa rin sila nagnanakaw,” Bernardo posted.
(That man was better, he was doing the duty or job of others. He said this has been reported many times but was not given action, that’s why they continue to steal.)
He also said he feels sorry for the jeepney driver who lost his money.
“Kawawa naman si kuyang jeepney driver, pasensya na kuya di ko nahawakan ‘yung batang naka-green, ‘yung nakatangay ng mga papel na pera mo,” he said.
(I pity the jeepney driver. I’m sorry I failed to grab the kid in the green shirt, the one who stole your cash).
Asked if he wants the children to be punished, Bernardo told INQUIRER.net that he wants them “arrested but not to be jailed with old inmates.”
“It might be better for them to be in a rehabilitation center knowing that they are using solvents,” he said. /muf