Female Passenger Narrowly Escapes ‘Ketchup Modus’ Inside Jeepney
A female passenger shared her frightening experience after almost falling victim to the so-called ketchup modus while riding a jeepney.
Recently, Irish Mendoza, a Facebook user, posted photos of herself inside the jeep where the incident happened. She explained how she almost became a victim of the modus operandi. The post quickly went viral and received various reactions online.
Mendoza had just come from a dermatology check-up in Westlake and was on her way to United. She was the first passenger inside the jeep, thinking it would be a quick and simple ride.
Along the way, the jeep stopped near a mall where four men got on board. Two sat in front of her while the other two stayed beside her. She noticed that all of them were carrying backpacks and looked a bit uneasy, but she chose not to judge them right away.
After a few moments, things started to feel off. One of the men in front tried to distract her by pointing out something under her seat. She ignored it and quickly secured her phone. Soon after, something that looked like sauce was suddenly splashed on her.
The men reacted loudly, trying to point fingers and confuse her, as if someone else was responsible.
Instead of panicking, she stayed calm and focused on her belongings. She had read about this kind of trick before, where suspects use substances like ketchup to distract victims and steal from them while they are busy cleaning up.
When the jeep stopped picking up more passengers, she immediately got off and transferred to another ride. Thankfully, nothing was taken from her.
Here is the full post:
“My first traumatic commuting experience
It started as a normal day. Galing akong Westlake for a derma check-up, and Westlake to United lang yung byahe ko. Ako yung unang sumakay ng jeep, then huminto sa Robinson at may sumakay na apat na lalaki. Yung dalawa nasa tapat ko, yung dalawa nasa gilid ko, and nasa may bungad ako ng babaan since malapit lang naman ako.
Lahat sila may backpack at medyo hindi maayos ang itsura (though hindi ko naman sila jinudge agad kasi hindi ko alam kung anong pinagdadaanan nila). Biglang ang bilis ng pangyayari tinago ko agad yung cellphone ko. Yung guy na nasa harap ko tried to distract me, may sinasabi siyang may something daw sa ilalim ko (pero hindi ko pinansin).
After their first failed attempt, yung dalawang lalaki sa gilid ko, biglang may tumalsik na sauce sakin. Hindi ako nag-panic naging alert lang ako. Pero sila, sobra kung maka-react “Ate, ayun yung naglagay oh!” Halatang gusto nila akong ma-distract, pero naka-focus ako sa gamit ko at sa next kong gagawin. Buti na lang mahilig ako magbasa tungkol sa mga ganitong modus, kaya aware ako.
Sakto huminto yung jeep para magsakay ng pasahero sa SPCBA, so I took the chance na bumaba agad at lumipat ng jeep. Thank God, wala silang nakuha sakin.
Double ingat po, talamak na naman ang “sauce/ketchup modus.”
In a previous post, a kind passenger earns online admiration after paying extra fare to jeepney driver
The social media users expressed their reactions to the post:
