MANILA, Philippines – Several commuters have been robbed near the old Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) building and Anda Circle in Port Area, and in United Nations Avenue, a few meters away from the Manila police headquarters and the Ermita police station.
The STAR gathered that muggings, snatchings, thefts by pickpockets take place almost every night in Port Area and Ermita.
Reports said criminals have been emboldened because most victims reportedly refuse to report the crimes to police.
The STAR witnessed how a woman aboard a jeepney lost her earrings to a robber in broad daylight along Taft Avenue yesterday.
The robber casually walked away since no policeman was in the area – meters away from the Manila police headquarters and the Ermita police in UN Avenue.
The STAR noted the proliferation of vagrants and minors sniffing the fumes of model airplane glue in Ermita.
At the old BIR building near Anda Circle in Port Area, a number of commuters, mostly employees of publishing companies, fall prey to robbers lurking in the dimly lit portion of the building.
Despite the complaints, Ermita police station chief Superintendent Felipe Cason has failed to deploy police patrol cars or policemen in the area.
Nighttime commuters were mainly victimized by snatchers, who take advantage of the traffic jam in front of Manila City Hall. Commuters have complained that there are no police patrols in the area.
Many victims interviewed by The STAR believe street crimes would decrease in Ermita if it is cleared of vagrants and glue-sniffers.