Robbed in Manila - At gunpoint

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

UPDATE ON THE SITUATION: Just to clear up for those who thought this was a scam, I spoke to Wayne in Pasay today and the poor old guy was naive and lost a lot of money and all his cards. His daughter has now managed to get some funds to him so at least he is back on his feet so to speak. He's flying to Cebu today to stay with another Aussie there. Great news.

[@rogerwilco4736]

I always advise "newbies" to the Philippines to never leave their hotel or accommodation with more money than you are prepared to give away. If the hotel has no safe there is always somewhere in the room where you can hide things where the maids are unlikely to look. Another trick to thwart entry to your room is leave the TV or radio turned up loud and put don't disturb sign on the door when your out

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@rogerwilco4736 yeah another great idea to leave TV on and the do not disturb sign out. 👍

[@vgwalldecals]

Chances are if you have a hotel room without a room safe in the Philippines, you are staying in the cheapest hotel you could find. That is mistake number one. Mistake number two is using a taxi instead of Grab. With Grab, it's just like Uber. You know the drivers name, the tag number and the car model before you are even picked up.

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@vgwalldecals yeah I have to admit though I have stayed in cheap hotels here before too. And I have a great taxi driver who I call when I need him so they're not all bad but I do agree that grab is a much better option. 🦘✌️

[@Ghekko-kw3zz]

Yep & make it obvious you're taking photos of the car & the driver. If anything weird happens, make a live video & let them know that you are.

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@Ghekko-kw3zz yeah great idea brother. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I have a great taxi driver who's cell phone number is in my phone and I just call or text him when I need him. He has been invaluable for me when travelling to Legazpi helping with purchasing motor cycle parts and transferring my license to a Philippines one.

[@davidcogburn6725]

I have lived in the Philippines for 9 years. As an American, I stand out in my local area but have never had a problem. I help the local residents whenever it is appropriate and very active in my local church. I feel safer here than I do in the United States. I learned a very special lesson in the military, situational awareness and to be aware of my surroundings. I don't go around flashing money, trying to stand out, instead I try to blend in. A lesson everyone should use.

[@Hitstrekker]

Spot on !

[@AFAMunplugged]

I don't feel safer here than I do in the US, but I also haven't ever had a problem here (or in the US).

[@Ghekko-kw3zz]

@@davidcogburn6725 the green as grass travellers do tend to have a virtual glowing neon sign over them. Your situational awareness is enough turn off to victim hunters to keep looking for that neon newbie.

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@Ghekko-kw3zz 100% I remember when I first came here my head was on a swivel looking at everything and everyone but now I just focus on the task at hand so to speak. It's blatantly obvious to locals if you're a sight seer. 🦘✌️

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@davidcogburn6725 yeah 100% David. Unfortunately some people are very naive when travelling and it can be disastrous. 🦘✌️

[@troymoses8405]

If you’re staying at a hotel without a safe in the room, more than likely you can leave valuable items with the staff at the front desk, chances are they have a safe.If you can’t trust the staff at the hotel with your items, then I suggest not staying at that hotel.

[@GerinPhils]

Yes

[@VittoShulman]

Not in Philippines. If you ask front desk about anything the answer will be "not available".

[@ceeIoc]

How do you know if the staff is trustworthy?

[@Violet-uh9fj]

I would rather be perceived as poor in the US, than perceived as a rich foreigner who is always a target for someone.

[@arnieljovero1008]

As if robberies are not happening in the good old USA. It happens everywhere.

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@Violet-uh9fj unfortunately it's not just foreigners, many Filipino families who are percieved as being upper class have also been targeted. We've had locals killed in our barangay over money also. Very sad

[@Hitstrekker]

I have heard of these examples before, it's easy to get complacent in a country where the locals are so nice and friendly. Don't get complacent anywhere, even in your home country.

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

100% true, stuff like this can happen absolutely anywhere at anytime.

[@Ghekko-kw3zz]

A few points of note (if true story) 1/ if your hotel doesn't have room safes or they are dodgy, the front desk will have safe deposit boxes. Preferably have a small lockbox yourself which fits in safes. Make a point of taking photos of everything going in & make sure staff know you've taken photos. They aren't going to risk stealing your stuff in that scenario. 2/ while the government has very few CCTV cameras, loads of private ones are everywhere if you are observant. PNP attitude to this level of crime is generally DGAF. A few blue notes donation to the "police benevolent fund" soon gets action. 3/ don't freakin travel without insurance!

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

Well Tammy has been upfront about just trying to help her Dad and she came across as very genuine Ghekko so i'm confident she was telling me the truth. She would have no reason to be making the story up and she was only seeking advice from me as to how she could assist Wayne in Pasay while she is still in Australia. She was quite upset that he was traumatised by the incident as anyone would be if this happened to their parents. Unfortunately not everyone is street savvy when travelling to other countries and he was just a little naive but that doesn't mean I don't feel sorry for his situation. Guess it's an expensive lesson learned and next time he will do things differently brother P.S she has now been able to get him some funds and he is recovering from his ordeal.

[@Phiyedough]

It is true that things like this can happen anywhere but some places are worse than others. I got robbed in Barcelona and no end of other people I've spoken to also got robbed there.

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@Phiyedough yeah some places are definitely worse than others

[@Jonathan-je9uh]

Daughter contacts you to help her dad eh, and she has trouble sending him money, all western unions closed then i assume, and other forms of intl payment stopped from Australia to the Philippines lol, mate mate mate, you know scammers also do such, copy youtubers details to scam money out of them, did you actually contact the dad in manila mate?

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@Jonathan-je9uh Yes mate, I spoke to him today and he is doing ok now. There was never any ask of me to send money. And his daughter and I chatted for a long time last night. She was really looking for advice on what to do and quite distraught that her Dad was in shock after his ordeal. I think the issue was he didn't have enough ID to collect so she was hoping to find someone in Pasay she could send it to that had adequate ID to give it to him.🦘✌️

[@Ghekko-kw3zz]

Agree, there are CCTV cameras all over Manila, the PNP just need some unofficial assistance to prioritize a particular relatively petty crime. Armed robbery by 3 guys & accomplice taxi driver, for an old guy's wallet contents- very doubtful. Why bring a bazooka when a box knife will do?

[@Ghekko-kw3zz]

Also IF true this is another geezer traveling with no insurance. Crazy when it's so cheap for travellers.

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@Ghekko-kw3zz yeah 100% Unfortunately a lot of people think it won't happen to them so try and save a buck by not taking travel insurance.

[@Ghekko-kw3zz]

@@BrianandTesinthePhilippines in a country where it's perfectly legal for hospitals to hold foreigners hostage until the bill is settled. Yeah medical is cheap there for ordinary services but high end life saving surgery done well can still eat up millions of pesos in a few days.

[@badboylimmy]

So first of all, get an airBnB, not a hotel room, you’re more free to do stuff like hide your cash & cards in more places. Also, a taxi in Manila? No one warned him about taxis? Why not use grab?

[@Ghekko-kw3zz]

@@badboylimmy basic facts getting lost in the noise.

[@robertauld1334]

My wife and returned last week and i was leaving l.a. cafe a street boy tried to snatch my phone. I couldn't believe it he thought i drunk but wasn't . My homeless friend a woman chased him off. She always watches my back because i gave her and her family charity over the 7 years i lived in Manila

[@tomiesto240]

This is why I only use Grab and verify the info for the ride before getting in... a younger person with a little bit more situational awareness is less likely to experience this but that really sucks for him and you can never let your guard down

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@tomiesto240 yeah unfortunately elderly people are from a different era and much more trusting. It's sad that all societies have changed for the worse over the last few decades. 🦘✌️

[@douglasljdunn]

Found it difficult to believe this. More likely, you have been contacted by a scammer Brian

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@douglasljdunn well she seemed quite genuine mate and there was no ask of anything from me except advice brother. Just a lady who is not sure about how to help her elderly dad from back home. She was more concerned with him being traumatized and in shock and never once even hinted at me giving monetary support. But it's good to be suspicious and on ya guard brother 100%

[@Bereadyalways123]

I find it for real , lived there on and off since 1987 The Philippines is a disaster country and getting worse year on years simple lang sana-all …ingat.

[@Adrian-qb1tp]

all sounds a bit fishy with what she said about the money side of things, and why leave your passport inside the hotel, still doesn't all add up mate.

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@Adrian-qb1tp I contacted her last night and she has now managed to get some funds to him so he's gonna be ok. His passport was in his luggage with clothing, none of which he considered worthy of stealing. It was his cash and cards he was worried about and it makes perfect sense really. Who wants to steal your passport?

[@MattFromAmerica]

Hey! I got robbed in Manila too! Mine fortunately wasn't at gun point it was just two people. First time I wondered if I was going to conclude some people's lives. I tracked my location with GPS and because I have photographic memory, I took the police straight to their doorstep. Four days prior there was a guy who was on the same flight as me from Palawan who was with his GF, they got robbed at gunpoint, he tried to stop it, was shot and died there. I felt emboldened to speak with the cops because of the quantity that were out following that event in 2022. The cops had asked if I wanted to beat the hell out of the guy, I said no, because I thought it would be bad optics. I didn't even want my money back, I just wanted him to know not to mess with foreigners.

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@MattFromAmerica yeah these incidents happen far more than people know and it's not just foreigners at risk. I know of many wealthy Filipinos who have been targeted also, some in our local area were killed. Stay safe

[@Sam12700]

Another informative video mate, thank you ✌️

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

Thanks Sam, appreciate the kind words brother

[@dong4617]

If they saw him looking at the taxi number, they might have killed him.

[@BB-dp4kh]

to be robbed in a foreign country is a sign that it is time to return home..

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@BB-dp4kh and get robbed at home is a sign to go to a foreign country??? 😂 it can happen anywhere as we all know

[@ian-f5f]

@@BrianandTesinthePhilippines Getting robbed at gunpoint is one of the rarest things to happen in Australia.

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@ian-f5f yeah true but that's due mostly to gun laws. Countries that have relaxed gun laws don't see the difference though unfortunately 🦘✌️

[@jonpritz9838]

Always take pics of taxi then text pic to relative

[@jonpritz9838]

Grab much better idea than taxis

[@robcampbell18]

The “sad announcement” phishing scam involves someone sending you a message saying they have bad news.

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

Rob I spent a long time on messenger with Tammy and her only motive was to get advice on how she could help her dad from Australia. She at no point asked or even implied she wanted anything else from me. In fact when I explained how far from Pasay I was she thanked me and ended the chat. I was the one who asked her more about the story and continued the conversation. She has now sent him funds today and he is recovering from his ordeal. Thanks for watching mate.

[@keithaar62]

Even safe not safe in Manila because staff has a key to open it .. hard to even hide cash in rooms 😊

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@keithaar62 no the safes have electronic pin that you set yourself then you leave the door open when you leave so the pin can be changed by the next occupant. Great idea really

[@MillenialDreams]

​@@BrianandTesinthePhilippines yeah but those safes are small and easy to take. I could put one of those things in my backpack dude

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@MillenialDreams small yes but bolted down from inside the safe so pretty hard to remove unless you had an electric grinder in your pocket

[@douglasljdunn]

Never, never catch a taxi. These guys are thieves. Use a Grab which is secure.

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@douglasljdunn I have a great taxi driver from Legaspi actually Doug. Used him many times to collect us from Pilar, shut the meter off and take us to Legaspi running me everywhere all day for 2k. Then the same thing the next day until we're ready to go back to Pilar for another 2k. Fantastic guy who also took me to LTO and used his contacts there to expedite my license transfer so there are good ones about. But if in Manila we almost always use grab mate yes. 🦘✌️

[@Jimmy-mx4cc]

Going back to the good old days......I feel it's going to get worse...

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@Jimmy-mx4cc with cost of living increasing so much I think you may be right brother 🦘✌️

[@ian-f5f]

Glad I live in Australia.

[@t-rexs232]

Your government they importing the peaceful community, goodluck to that.

[@BelusTraveller]

Welcome to the Philippines 🇵🇭, Wow Cab drivers now, Everyone on the payroll in the Philippines, From Markets to Hardware, Ya Big Cities can get ya, The one guy in Cebu off the plane late goes to the bare and gets shot dead 5 hours later. Always travel with people partner, brother, cousin, someone. WTF is he alone for being old, Can’t blame this guy if it was a cab driver, Good lord, But should have had a pick up at airport someone, God Bless

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

yeah it's absolutely a great idea to always travel with a partner I agree. I guess he's been here so many times and he just wanted to check out his damaged house from the typhoon so jumped a plane and then a taxi thinking he would be ok. Should have also booked into a hotel with a working safe in the room just to be sure.

[@jamesholsten7511]

The first thing I do when I get in a tricycle is look at the license number. I very seldom take rides from single motors, as I was advised against it by my wife's brother. I'm in Mindanao, so situational awareness is important.

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@jamesholsten7511 yeah great idea James. Street smarts is what it's all about Kuya 🦘✌️

[@martynbrown2580]

Some advice. Manila Airport has yellow taxis, there are the only "official " taxis to use, all others are scammers. You can ask at the official taxis stand outside the terminals, they will advise you.

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@martynbrown2580 yeah good advice brother, or download the grab app before arriving and use that. Apparently there are 3 or 4 other ride share apps here but grab is the most well known of course. 🦘✌️

[@stuartcraigan7287]

Always get a hotel with a safe😊

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@stuartcraigan7287 a working safe yes. 100%

[@nicolacrickmar8829]

The daughter could send him money via Western Union, if not and he has no more money Australian Embassy?

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@nicolacrickmar8829 yeah I think his ID was the main issue but his passport was back at the hotel where the police dropped him so hopefully she got him sorted today.

[@ronaldgordon2374]

Good advice. Thx!

[@castortroy365]

I now have the details of a reputable driver in manila whom I use for short and long drives. I look after him and he looks after us. Even helped deliver some documents while we were still in Australia. Try & use someone like this if at all possible. Also stay at a decent hotel in a decent location. Where I stay in Makati they have armed guards, full metal scanner and even a bomb sniffing dog at the front entrance. Take your security seriously in Manila.

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@castortroy365 yeah I also have a great driver I use in Legaspi. There are some really nice helpful taxi drivers, it's only the minority that are dodgy.

[@AmMixDog]

That's SOP in Philippines. Watch yourselves. Think think think!

[@X_Marks-u7r]

People compare Thailand to the Philipines

[@agent.86]

If you rob a Filipino in another country then there protesting and demanding justice! Filipinos do want they want in the Philippines but expect respect in other countries..

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@agent.86 well I'm sure Wayne was looking for justice when he went to the police also. Sometimes in any country the perpetrators are just not apprehended. I don't really think it's any different to be honest. Being in a 3rd world country, the system is not as modern so it can be difficult.

[@agent.86]

@AustralianinthePhilippines I been in the Philippines since 2009 .. I disagree with what your saying! All the locals know each other for years! Including the police! The government provides motorcycles to all the brgy workers and they go out scouting and document who's in there neighborhood, !They know who you are and where you live! If you commit a crime and you go south 16 hours away, the brgy Capt already has a faxed picture of you that he shares with the brgy workers! You can run but you can't hide! The biggest group of people that report to the police is the tricycle drivers and jeepney drivers! There in the streets day and night! They know everyone! If you want protection in the Philippines you have to ride the tricycle a lot and give great tips! You will become an asset and you will be protected by 30 or 40 drivers at all times! There my protection and served me well! But at the end of the day there's better countries to live in, Bali is just as cheap and more beautiful and modern but the same scams! I'm moving to Saipan it's USA and it's only 5 hours from Manila .. I'm done with the Philippines, mainly the people here! Time to leave.

[@BlackVSV6]

There are place that you should never go in the Philippines, Manila being one of them. Mindanao (exempt Davao) is the another, there is a reason Australian soldiers are in the Mindanao area.

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@BlackVSV6 There's Aussie soldiers in Mindanao? I didn't know that. 🦘✌️

[@BlackVSV6]

@@BrianandTesinthePhilippines they have been there for quite a few years now. Mostly down in the south area.....

[@BlackVSV6]

@@BrianandTesinthePhilippines it was meant to end in 2017 but a small contingent still remain to monitor the area. www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/mindanao-conflict-affected-areas-delivery-strategy.pdf

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@BlackVSV6 Wow good to know. Thanks so much for the info mate 🦘✌️

[@chuck9112]

He has a house? Foreigners can't own property? Doesn't he have a Philippines bank account? I transfer money directly from the my US bank to my Philippines bank account. Something is weird.

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@chuck9112 actually some foreigners take a 50 year lease on a small lot and build a house which they can own. You can own buildings just not the land. Then traveling back and forth to visit they have somewhere to stay. I don't have a Philippines bank account and I know lots of Expats don't trust banks here so it's not unusual really. His daughter has now managed to get some funds to him here and he's going to be ok. She messaged me last night.

[@allanfahrenhorst-jones6118]

Howdy. Yeah this is a bugger. Maybe if anyone can think ahead they could use their phone and pretend to be live streaming as many bloggers do. This trick is also being used in America when dealing with police.

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@allanfahrenhorst-jones6118 another great suggestion brother. 🦘✌️

[@daglennartsolvang4191]

You Can be robbed everywhere in the world. Have to be careful when you going places alone an d extra careful in evening and nighttime.

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@daglennartsolvang4191 yep, anytime, anywhere we all need to be vigilant and use common sense.

[@britinoz4305]

Maybe there were cameras where he got into the taxi? ... Food for thought!

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@britinoz4305 yeah I suggested that to his daughter also but apparently after 2 hours with police they concluded there was nothing they could do. She managed to get him some funds last night so he's gonna be ok thankfully.

[@sproket168]

Interesting one.

[@louisgalea1639]

They supposed to know which taxi pass from that alley by trekking

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@louisgalea1639 except that the dishonest drivers don't have any tracking on. They also quite often will offer you a fixed price and turn the meter off just to make a little extra.

[@billyjoe1888]

Use the grab app the car an license plate is saved on your phone even the drivers name... Pluss hotels do not recommend taxis... Stay safe in Philippines

[@JohnTaylor-yk9hl]

I do so sorry for rob Man U can leave yr things at front desk always get picked up my hotel car at airport when you arrive book a hotel for when y arrive one day I was getting taxi and he went down dark st a stop I thought I was gone and he said get out we are changing cars i nearly ?????? Then is said we are getting a newer better car

[@FiveRingsDojoMMA]

That's hektic man

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@FiveRingsDojoMMA happens a lot more than people realize unfortunately Roy 🦘✌️

[@peterlim3189]

I'm an American and have been living in Manila for more than 10 years. Never been robbed even once. Well I guess you should know how to carry yourself. Good luck 👍

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@peterlim3189 yeah we are not saying everyone will get robbed brother, just that it can happen if you are not cautious. Hope you never have to experience what poor Wayne went through but unfortunately some foreigners do. 🦘✌️

[@rustyevolution6298]

BS! Violent crime against foreigners is extremely rare in the Philippines. The Philippines is far more safe for foreigners than many other countries. In a study on safety in 142 countries around the world the Philippines scored safer than the US, Canada, Australia and the UK. Yes there is occasional petty robbery or pickpocketing in the inner city but any aware individual can avoid that. I have traveled ALL OVER the Philippines, Inner city slums, remote mountain villages, even to areas where Abu Sayyaf is active and never once had an issue. If you are so self unaware that you allow a taxi driver to take you to an unknown area and do not know their posted ID that is your own fault. Grab drivers are background checked, recorded, GPS tracked and registered. If you carry large amounts of valueables and it gets taken, you are a total fool for carrying more than you need daily. Hotel room safes all over the world are entirely useless and easy to open in seconds. Never bring large amounts of cash to ANY country. Your safety is YOUR responsibility so use common sense. The Philippines is very safe unless you are a fool.

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@rustyevolution6298 haha The Philippines don't keep accurate statistics for a start and crimes here go on a lot more than people realise. An Australian family was killed in a Manila hotel this year which was reported on TV but a lot of the crimes never make the news. I know of 3 foreigners just on our island that were targeted last year and only due to the fact that my wife is a local and they all knew. Not 1 of those crimes made TV news. Just because you haven't heard about it doesn't mean it didn't happen brother. It can and does happen everywhere mate. But thanks for your opinion.

[@rustyevolution6298]

@AustralianinthePhilippines I never said crime doesn't happen, but it is far safer than many other places. Crime often does not get reported, even in the US or other "first world" nations. In the Philippines if you use street smarts and are self aware, it is extremely unlikely that you will have an issue.

[@johnbev2]

BS? I was robbed at gun point. Shit taken from my room. Don’t tell me it’s rare! It was at a gas station, from a trike driver. I was almost pickpocket from a Midget.

[@rustyevolution6298]

@@johnbev2 You are a foreigner which makes you a target because you have more wealth than most locals do. You made yourself a target by being obvious and oblivious. Hotels all around the world have crappy in room safes, never trust them. If you left valuables in your room then that is on you. There are more pickpockets in New York and particularly Rome than there are in the Philpppines. Crime happens but it is statistically rare against foreigners in the Philippines. Be more self aware. Have better street smarts. You are a victim when you make yourself a victim. I have traveled all over the world from the slums of Rio to the back streets of Johannesburg. If you are self aware you can often avoid crime. In the Philippines you can avoid it 100% of the time.

[@whitesamurai]

This guy is an anti-gun nut and he gets more views by telling these kinds of stories. If the story was "held up at knifepoint" by three guys, it wouldn't get the same amount of traction or views. Then again, in real life, surveys show women are much more afraid of knives than guns and rapists are therefore much more likely to succeed if they hold a knife up to a woman's face. I have decided to stop watching his videos because they sort of like listening to the crazy woman at the laundromat: full of fear, hysteria and borderline crank.

[@cameronshine3465]

the philippines is a way better life then Australia, Australia was once known as the lucky country, now i have renamed it as the unlucky country. There is no paper work in the Philippines , in Australia you need a check list before you walk out the front door, can i do this and can i do that .Your lucky stay there .

[@BrianandTesinthePhilippines]

@@cameronshine3465 oh there is paperwork here mate. Lots more paperwork than Aus. And every piece of paperwork costs money then most of it needs to be notarised by a lawyer lol. It can be a pain if you need to do anything here really 🦘✌️