An American national in Bacolod City evaded a knife attack by a man who asked for money from him and his wife. 

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage showed the foreigner sitting outside a convenience store with his wife standing beside him in Barangay Mansilingan.

Moments later, a man in a cap approached them and whispered something to the American. Later still, the man in a cap pulled out a knife and tried to stab the American.

The American managed to dodge the attack and ran away but the suspect ran after him and stopped only when the American’s partner started calling for help.

It turned out that the suspect asked for money, P10, and got mad when the foreigner told him they would need to withdraw because he had run out of cash.

The partner, Lea, said almost got hit by a vehicle.

“Lumapit siya sa amin humingi ng P10. Sabi ng aking husband, wait lang, wala kaming money, mag-withdraw lang. Parang friendly ang paglapit niya. Sabi niya, ‘Sir, do you need protection? Just pay me. Sinaksak niyaang aking fiance,” said Lea, the partner of the American.

“Hinabol pa niya hanggang sa gasolinahan. Ang aking partner, lumiko pa nga, muntik nang masagasaan ng sasakyan. Sumigaw na ako, lumabas na ang mga tao at iyon, bigla siyang nawala,” Lea added.

The American sustained several bruises.

The couple planned on filing a formal report about the incident.

Lt. Col. Lester Leada, Deputy Director for Operations of the Bacolod City Police Office, said the police force does not want any crime tarnishing the image of the city.

“Sa amin, basta foreign national ang biktima, we make an extra effort. Ayaw naman natin na masira ang imahen ng ating lugar sa ibang country,” he said.

Still in Bacolod, in Barangay 21, a female street sweeper was taking a photo with co-workers when two men on board a motorcycle arrived suddenly and snatched her phone.

The woman, Haydee Ledesma, said they were taking their photo as proof they reported for work.

“Nag-selfie kami kasi iyan ang patunay ng nag-duty kami, attendance namin. Bigla na lang may humila sa kamay ko, inagaw na ang aking cellphone,” she said.