MANILA, Philippines – A street dweller on Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) was caught on video harassing a motorist, threatening to smash her car’s windshield if she refuses to shell out alms.
In a 90-second video posted by a certain Mane Teodoro last Tuesday, a man was seen stopping a car at EDSA’s innermost north-bound lane near Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City.
The man, who stood in front of the vehicle, was demanding money while gesturing with a rock in his right hand.
“Kung ikaw ako, dapat ba sinagasaan ko na ‘to? Makukulong ba ko if i did? This happened earlier at around 5:10 pm after Guadalupe North Bound. Hinarang ako tapos may pinakitang bato. Sumesenyas na pag di sya binigyan, babatuhin nya yung kotse,” Teodoro said in her post.
(If I were you, should I have ran over him? Would I be imprisoned for that […] I was blocked then threatened with a rock. He gestured that if he does not get what he wants, he will hit the car.)
What’s worse, according to Teodoro, was that after giving the man some coins, he demanded for P100 instead.
“So sabi ko wala. kinabahan na ko eh. Pinilit nyang ipasok kamay nya sa window. So isinara ko at naipit sya. Dahil hindi ako nagbigay pinukpok nya ng bato yung windshield twice habang nakaipit kamay nya sa window, mabuti hindi nabasag,” she narrated.
“Inipit ko sya para walang pwersa sa pagbato ng windshield, pero natakot naman ako umandar habang nakaipit sya, baka maputol yung kamay… Di pa nakuntento, ginasgasan pinto gamit yung bato,” she added.
The complainant eventually managed to speed off and reported the incident to a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic enforcers stationed near a mall in Mandaluyong City.
After three minutes, however, another motorist with the same story surfaced.
“Share ko lang sa mga lady drivers na wag mag innermost lane sa EDSA lampas ng bridge ng Guadalupe,” Teodoro noted. (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)