The Fort incident

Read this from twitter and I hope you warn your families and friends. Please be extra careful when taking public transportation especially when you're traveling alone. Take note of the cab's plate number and text it to a family member or to a friend.

---

"I am grateful to be alive. On my way home, I was robbed. They took everything--- my laptop, my ATM and credit cards, all identification cards, money, and even my books and notebooks for school. Thankfully, I had loaned my phone to a friend who was slated to go out of town.

I boarded a cab, locked the doors, but the cabbie was part of the modus. Ten minutes had not even passed when two men were let in the cab. One rode on the passenger's seat while the other sat next to me. I was pushed to the floor. The man then covered my head with a black cloth. Both men demanded that I give them my bank passwords, and so I did. Out of panic, I had given the incorrect pin numbers. They hurt me and threatened to kill me because they thought I was fooling them. They never took off the black cloth so I never knew where I was the whole time.

When they were successful in withdrawing all my money, they said they'd let me go. Black fabric over my head, they tried to grope me. I resisted and they hurt me more. They hit me in the head and legs several times. In the calmest voice I can muster, I bargained. I did not want these men to smell my fear; they might push me even more to do things I did not want to do. I just kept on resisting until they gave up.

It was a long cab ride. I did not know where I was. Finally, the cab stopped. The men told me to not scream or run when I got off, or else they would shoot me. They pushed me out of the cab and sped away. I had no idea where I was.

The first thing I thought when I was freed was, "Anak, I will go home to you." To be honest, I didn't think this would be possible. I was already ready to die. In my mind, I had said all my farewells all my wishes for those I love and care for. That I had escaped this is nothing short of a miracle.

I walked in this dark warehouse area until I saw the highway. From The Fort, they had taken me to Cubao. I sought the help of a jeepney driver and his wife; they brought me to the nearest police station.

What happened to me has been reported. The police told me that two similar cases happened today, but those other women were not very lucky--- they were both beaten and raped.

This is not a meme. This happened to me, your friend. To all of you who work late, please take great care. Pass this around if you must-- I do not want this happening to anybody else, especially my friends.

I am grateful to have survived this with only a few cuts and bruises. I am so grateful to live another day to spend with my child.
I am safe now and is staying in my adopted family's home.

Dennis Martin Perocho, Amie Perez--- please do not go home. They took my house keys too and have our address. I'd rather be cautious, because you'll never know what they'd do."