October 30 was a very traumatic day for me; it was the day when I was caught in a scuffle between a policeman and two robbers. The incident happened past 6 pm inside a PUJ route. Although this is the fastest way home from my workplace I already refrained from taking PUJ plying this path because of its reputation of being infested with muggers. It rained hard that day so eventually it was hard to get a ride on the alternate route with many passengers waiting and only few jam-packed PUJs passing by.
I wanted to make it home early because I did not want to get stranded in flood so I took the risk passing the usual route instead. I seem to be caught between the devil (robbers) and the deep blue sea (flood) and unwittingly chosen the greater risk. My precognitive ability was in full swing that day because even before I was able to decide on what route to take thoughts of being robbed bugged me relentlessly. Feelings of it became stronger when I was inside the PUJ and I suppose I should have heeded the warning to get off the vehicle but my arrogant side told me otherwise.
The man sitting by the PUJ’s entrance was busy with his HP and then two men boarded, the other man sat across where I was sitting while the other one stayed by the vehicles entrance. The man across nodded to the other for which I thought he was telling him to get inside since the seat on my left side was unoccupied. I never knew that it was a signal to declare their intent of robbery. The robber by the entrance pointed a knife directly at the neck of the man with the HP and demanded to give him his phone and we were all ordered to do the same. The primary victim was defiant and defended himself. The fearless victim was able to draw out his gun even before the robber with the knife was able to slash him. The robber who pointed the knife at him managed to jump off the vehicle while the other one failed to escape. The victim pointed the gun on the face of the robber’s accomplice asserting him that any false move could earn him death. That was the time when panic struck me because I could sense the robber’s scheme for escape, the victim’s doggedness to arrest him, their possible struggle with the gun and me being caught in the middle of their fracas.
The man on my right who I guess saw the frightened look on my face was kind enough to switch places with me not minding the eminent danger. If something more terrible happen he could either be the accomplice’s closest target for shield or he could have the courage and chance to help the fearless victim. I was just thankful that nothing more serious happened that night, the man with the gun who happened to be a policeman asked all passengers to come with him at the police precinct to file proper charges against the suspect which we did eagerly. We were all thankful to the brave police officer and we agree on his belief that if he will not pursue the case, this robber and others like him will surely go back to their criminal deeds and more people will fall victim to them.
As we were waiting for the investigator in the police station, the incident jangled inside my head, my knees were still trembling, my heart was pounding heavily and it felt like all my guts vanished. I heard stories from colleagues who also experienced being robbed inside PUVs and read news of helpless people’s senseless death because of cellphone stealing. Now I know the feeling, and the trauma still lingers on until this day. I feel afraid whenever I am inside a PUJ, too afraid that I might encounter the same incident. I became too cautious of suspicious-looking people, and I hate this feeling of distrust.
I want to get over the trauma so I wrote about it as a sort of therapy. I wrote about it not to remember the ordeal but to think of the beauty and the lesson that remains. For one, I feel blessed that GOD shielded me from further harm and our lives and possessions were saved. Also, the experience made me admire more all those people who are not ashamed of their “menial” jobs such as being street vendor, garbage collector and the like who makes an honest living and proud of their hard earned money. It would be a sin to mock them for their means of living. I know that life is really too tough for some, highly-paid, easy and decent work is too hard to find. It is just not right to judge and blame those who decided to earn money from stealing but we cannot and must not tolerate them either. I believe that GOD will find a way for them. Thankful to the brave police officer who was at the right moment and heed to the call of duty to protect the people.
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