Tourists and balikbayans, beware the Gagamba Boys

Balikbayans and tourists who arrive in the Philippines via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) may have to think twice before giving alms to boys lingering along NAIA Road.

 

The boys, locally known as the Gagamba Boys or Gagamboys, are not satisfied with coins and on occasion will even demand dollars, GMA News TV's State of the Nation reported Wednesday.

 

GMA News' Raffy Tima said stories narrated by netizens indicate the boys would go into action when vehicles are stuck in traffic at NAIA Road, trying to wipe the windshields of some of the vehicles.

 

 

But when the driver or passenger opens the window to give alms, the boy would demand more—or some of his companions would approach and stand on the vehicle stepboard, threatening to damage the vehicle until the driver gives more.

 

"Pagdating sa stoplight, naabutan namin stop. Nang nahinto kami may lumapit isang lalaki at naghihingi ng limos. Binigyan ko ng limos, naawa ako. Wala na akong maibigay, 'yan lang barya ko. Ang mga kasamahan niya sumakay sa stepboard, sumampa. Lima sila," said Ralph Fernandez, one of the Gagamba Boys' victims.

 

Tima said that when they observed the area on Wednesday, a cameraman observed one incident where a motorist gave alms to one of the boys.

 

But the boy, apparently not satisfied with what he got, even threw the money back at the motorist and hit him.

 

Police are not discounting such boorish behavior by some of the boys could be due to drug use.

 

Police operations

 

Pasay City police on Wednesday conducted operations against the gang, taking into custody seven minors and three adults.

 

But police admitted they had to release most of the boys since they are minors, and there was no one to formally file a complaint against them.

 

On the other hand, State of the Nation anchor Jessica Soho narrated she had also fallen victim to the Gagamba Boys.

 

"May pupunas-punas sa sasakyan, tapos siyempre maaawa ka, bibigyan mo ng kung anong barya na madampot mo o kaunting halaga na maibibigay mo. Bubuksan mo ang bintana ng auto. Hindi mo na maisara kasi nakaipit ang kamay niya. Tapos ayaw nila ng barya, maliit na halaga. Sasabihin dollar na lang daw ang ibigay pambili ng kilo ng bigas," she said.

 

She added the driver could not move the vehicle forward while the boys were still hanging on to the vehicle, because other motorists would think he was heartless.

 

"Hindi ka nila titigilan hangga't hindi mo sila bigyan ng malaking halaga o dollar," she said. —Joel Locsin/KG, GMA News