Modus Operandi of Budol-Budol Gang In Las Pinas City

Las Pinas General Hospital and Trauma Center
Photo credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org/ by Charles Boris Manez

Tne Budol-Budol Gang (crime syndicates) that has been plaguing Metro Manila, has reared its ugly in Las Pinas City, where I reside. This morning, I went out to buy a few things in the nearby mall. As it is just a few meters away from the entrance to our subdivision, I opted to walk along the side streets of the national highway, walking slowly as I am prone to do. While on my way, I bumped into  a distraught woman, who inquired about where to find a certain store. I must have looked friendly and unsophisticated, that she choose me from among the people traversing the streets. 

She said further, that she had already spent P300 for taxi fare, and was fooled by the taxi driver, so she had to walk as she had no more money left. I knew that something was amiss, since the locals would normally take a jeepney to find a place, and not ride a taxi cab. The latter is not practical, and you spend more since the flag down rate is more expensive than the jeepney fare.

Besides, the  jeepney would have other passengers who  can tell you about where to drop off. Hence, this mode of transportation is cheaper and safer. The woman wanted me to accompany her to the place, which she said,  was just along the highway. I smelled something fishy, and looked around to find  a police officer. I saw one at the corner of the street and told her to inquire from him. 

Members of Budol-Budol Gang before being imprisoned
Photo credit: liveinthephilippines.com

At the next instant, two women stopped by, to inform us on where to find the place. At this juncture, I knew that something was fishy. This is a budol-budol gang who was out for a grab, and with me as their target. I moved out of there immediately, and told the two women to just accompany her since they know the place better.

I left hastily and never turned back to see on what they did after that. Nonetheless, I never saw them following my route, which they pinpointed as where the place is. That just confirmed my suspicion that it was a budol-budol gang in operation. They are now plying the streets of Las Pinas City to look for people to victimize. 

The moral of the story: Better be wary always and never trust anyone while on the streets. Thinking smart could save your life.

+budol_budol_gang
+Las_Pinas_City

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Onli in da Pilipins: A Writer's Journal
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Date Rape Detectors: Avoiding GHB-Spiked Drinks in Parties

We now see a new addition inside women's purses when they attend parties --- Date Rape Drug Detectors. It is a test kit, 3 1/2" by 2 1/2" or the size of an ordinary business card, weighs 4 ounces, and comes with 10 test cards. The cards  are used  to detect  if your drink is spiked with drugs like GHB, or not. It is easy to use. You just put a small drop of your drink on the strip and wait for it to dry. If it changes in color, to  dark blue, you are in grave danger. That drink is spiked! Throw it away and get out of there fast!


GHB is a colorless, odorless, and salty liquid that is mixed in drinks whether alcoholic or non-alcoholic. It leads to dizziness, paralysis, and memory loss that takes effect in 15 minutes or less. When that happens, sexual assault may take place. Hence, you need to have a Date Rape Drug Detector, to prevent this incident from happening.

Attending parties to have  fun and drinks, can be an exhilarating experience for any woman on the go. The blasting music, the happy chatter, and the unlimited flow of beverages can give any girl a false sense of complacency. But in these crowds often lie the most dangerous thing --- the ugly truth about spiked drinks and date rape.

Women now have a way of protecting themselves through the use of these strips. However, it is not always reliable since it has its own limitations. It is observed that it doesn't work with blue or green tinged drinks. Nor does it work with ordinary drinking water. It is advisable to always read the markings in a well-lit corner of the room and be always on the guard of never trusting anybody with your drink;  nor leaving it unattended, even for a second.


Photo credit: Pixabay.com


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Steve Farzam, CEO of Shore Hotel: Santa Monica, California

Steve Farzam
Photo credit: vimeo.com

The California Attorney General's E-Crime Unit in cooperation with the United States Bureau of Tobacco, Alcohol & Firearms, the FBI, State Vehicles Agency of California, arrested Steve Farzam, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Santa Monica's Shore Hotel on June 27, 2014 on various charges of felony, misdemeanor, theft and grand larceny. He posted bail the same night. Steve Farzam was charged on 77 counts of mostly felonies: 18 counts of identity theft, 19 counts of impersonating police officers, and the manufacture and attempt to sell assault rifles.

Among the alleged crimes constitute:

Misdemeanor, involving identity theft and assault of several people;

Falsified license plates, official seals of the State of California, and gun permit at the day of his arrest;

Illegal possession of police properties: police official colored bars, radio, and siren, that were apparently taken from the County Sheriff of Los Angeles.

As regards charges of identity theft, Steve Farzam allegedly impersonated a police officer and committed the following crimes:

Arresting, detaining and made threats of arresting and detaining a person;

Intimidating another;

Made unlawful searches of people and their personal properties, and;

Theft and grand larceny.

According to the company website, its CEO was a police officer,  having graduated from the Academy for Police Officers at Santa Barbara at age 19. His activities include flying aircrafts and doing restoration of his 51' fire truck, and volunteering as tactical officer of a charitable organization that deals with "at risk" youth.

Shore Hotel, Santa Monica

Photo credit:  inhabitat.com

Shore Hotel is ideally located in the central area of the city, a mere six minute walk from Santa Monica Pier. It boasts of eco-friendly rooms, state-of-the-art gym that is open for 24 hours, and a business center. Each room has its own balcony and room massage service, among other amenities. It opened its doors to the public in 2011 and room rates are from $279 upwards per night. The Pacific Amusement Park is a mere six minute walk away from the hotel.

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ROBBERY WHILE ON A JEEPNEY RIDE

Jeepney in Chinatown

I took a jeepney from Vito Cruz to Binondo this morning. I was on my way to Chinatown to take some pictures and sample the food that were mentioned in Rappler a few days ago.

While on the jeepney, I noticed two elderly ladies talking animatedly. They were nicely dressed --- dapper-looking attire, nice bags, and a little jewelry by way of a necklace, ring, and earrings.

All of a sudden, I saw a young man sitting on the wayside suddenly stood up and approached the woman facing me. He moved fast and held both of her ears. I then heard a piercing shout from her, and I thought that she must have been hurt.

She told us that the man grabbed both her earrings that were clip-ons. Those were a pearl jewelry set, consisting of a necklace and ring that she was still wearing at that time, and it cost her around P20,000.

Well, it really looked expensive and I wonder why she wore it in the first place. It was good that the robber did not get her bag and other jewelries.

This all took place in broad daylight with many people milling around. Robberies in public transport are now becoming rampant with the coming Christmas season, and some people may now be that desperate.

Please be careful when you are out in the streets. Never dress up in a way that would call attention to yourself. Always keep watch on where you are going and look around, as somebody can just jump in on you; and before you know it, you have just been robbed!

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