Reese Barcelon
- A Facebook user named Marion Repulda Agner shared his terrible experience while he was heading to San Jose, Batangas.
- Four badjaos rode the jeepney he was in and the gay one sat beside him.
- Few moments later, the badjao initiated physical contact by rubbing Agner’s legs.
Badjaos are seen almost everywhere.
They usually travel in groups and wander in the roads. Sometimes, they would even climb in public vehicles and give out envelopes as they sing to entertain the passengers.
However, there are also instances wherein they show how ill-mannered and vulgar they can be.
A netizen named Marion Repulda Agner shared a shocking story on his social media account about the badjao who molested him while they were on a jeepney.
The post went viral instantly as there were a lot of netizens who could relate to his experience.
“I was molested by a badjao.
Sumakay ako ng jeep pa San Jose, Batangas at sa pagkalampas ng crossing pa Lemery ako bababa. Nung dumating na sa may kanto ng Airbase(papasok ng Mataas na Kahoy) may mga sumakay na Badjao. 1 beki at 3 babae. Dahil luwag yung jeep, sakin napatabi yung beki. Pinapababa na sila ng driver kaso ang sabi ng mga badjao “magbabayad kami”.”
Badjaos are a common sight in the province of Batangas. Most of the time, they climb jeepneys for a free ride or to simply beg for alms.
At first, the driver asked the badjaos to get off but they responded that they will pay for their fare so the driver had let them stay on the vehicle.
“Nung una kala ko, okay lang pero napansin kong hinihimas nung beki yung legs ko. Napansin nya siguro dahil naka shorts ako. Ginalaw ko yung legs ko at sinabihan ko para itigil nya kaso hindi nya ata ako narinig dahil naka face-mask ako. Inulit pa din nya. Hindi ako maka urong dahil may katabi ako sa left side ko.
Buti nalang may sumakay, mag nanay at dalawang bata, at isang professional. Bigla akong umurong agad nung umurong din yung katabi ko para hindi makakalapit sakin yung beki na badjao. Katabi ko yung dalawang bata at nasa harap nila yung nanay. Yung beki, katabi nya yung dalawang estudyante na lalaki na nakasabay ko din sa pagsakay. Yung isa naman yung hinimas himas. At muntikan ng nakawan dahil binubuksan yung bag nila.
Sinabi ng professional na babae na “Manong pababain nyo na to” kasi sobrang gulo na nila. Yung babaeng badjao bilgang sumigaw “Gusto mo patayin kita?” Paulit ulit nyang sinabi na galit na galit at magbabayad daw sila. Hindi naman kasi nagbabayad talaga.”
However, Agner noticed that the badjao was doing something suspicious when he rubbed his legs. As soon as he found a way to distance himself from the badjao, he immediately moved away from him.
More passengers rode the jeepney, and the badjao rubbed another man’s legs, causing ruckus inside the vehicle.
A woman asked the driver to drop off the badjaos, but they responded rudely to her by threatening to kill her angrily.
“Tumigil na yung driver, may dala atang pamalo dahil sa sobrang gulo na nila. Biglang sigaw ulit yung badjao na “Papatayin kita! Wag kang lalapit!”. At hindi ko inasahan yung sumunod na sinabi nila. Gamitan ko ng ibang words pero yun ang sinabi nila
“Sige ka, ibu-buko juice kita. Susubo ko yan **** mo”.
Wala kaming magawa ultimo yung driver. Nakakatakot dahil sobrang aggressive nila. Baka may mga tinatagong ice pick o kung ano man na matutulis na bagay ang pwede nilang gamitin laban samin. Kaming mga pasahero ang mapapasama. Pilit namin hindi pinapansin yung mga badjao. Pero sobrang bastos na talaga. Yun pa din sinasabi nila.
Buti nalang may bumaba na isa, nakalipat yung estudyante sa harapan ko.”
The driver pulled over to shoo away the badjaos, but they even became more aggressive and said malicious comments to the driver.
No one had the guts to do something as the badjaos were too belligerent, and the passengers feared that they might have a weapon being kept somewhere.
“Mas naawa ako dun sa dalawang batang pasahero. Halatang natatakot sila habang nasa biyahe. Ang ginawa ng nanay pumara nalang bago mag San Vicente. Para makasakay ulit ng jeep.
Pagkababa nila, bumaba din yung dalawang badjao. Naiwan yung beki at isang babae na badjao. Ang gulo pa din. Biglang position na parang aso yung beki habang nakatingin sakin. Hinahayaan ko nalang kasi malapit na din ako sa bababaan ko. Yung dalawa, dun sa crossing, paliko ng Lemery sila bumaba.
May nakausap din akong police woman kanina at nagtanong ako tungkol sa ganung scenario. Sabi nya, yun din ang malaking problema nila sa mga Badjao. Wala din silang magawa dahil una, mahirap malaman ang pangalan nila. Pangalawa, paiba iba ang lugar nila at pangatlo, mabilis silang makatakbo.
Gusto ko sanang videohan sila kung ano yung ginagawa nila kaso baka mahablot ang phone ko. Nagpost ako para maging aware ang karamihan lalo na sa nagco-commute sa Jeep na pa Batangas o pa Lipa. Na double ingat nalang. Hindi natin masabi, baka mas malala pa ang mangyari kung patulan natin sila.”
Some of the passengers got off to ride another jeep instead, while Agner remained seated as his destination isn’t that far anymore.
Apparently, the badjaos are one of the problems of the province due to the disturbance they usually cause to the public. Unfortunately, the local authorities haven’t made any action with this issue just yet so the badjaos are still roaming around somewhere in Batangas.
“Sana, may magawang paraan yung mga kinauukulan at nakakataas tungkol sa paglilibot ng mga Badjao. Dahil kaligtasan pa rin ng karamihan ang nakasalalay. Yung mga sumakay sa mga jeep. Pati na din yung pagala-gala sa Lipa lalo na sa may Rob at Big ben. Yung iba kapag hindi na bigyan, nandudura. Naexperience ko na din yan nung college ako.”
On the other hand, two out of the four badjaos were captured by the police after they stole a phone from a woman named Ma. Jessieca Mae Prado. The ones who were caught are the gay and the other one, while the other two who was in possession of the stolen phone had escaped.
Here’s what the people of the internet have to say:
Due to the fact that the issues of Badjaos aren’t addressed just yet, the public is advised to be extra careful whenever they are in the same vehicle or environment as no one knows how they would react.
How about you? Do you have any stories about the badjaos? Share your thoughts in the comment box!
