Child Pandesal Vendor Shaking in Fear After Being Robbed: Gets the Attention of Netizens, Media, and Government
Last Friday, a video spread on social media of a young boy, shaking in fear. According to Christopher Pacheco, who shared the video, “Kawawang bata nagtitinda lang ng pandesal dinukutan pa ng mama. Hoy hoy hoy! Mamang kolokoy maghanap buhay ka naman ng marangal!” (Poor kid who only sells bread was robbed by a man. To the man who stole the kid’s money, find a decent job!)
In the video, adults were seen comforting the 11 year old kid, who was crying and shaking. The video was taken in Deparo in Caloocan. According to the boy’s mother, he would sell pandesal to neighbors before going to school to pay for his fare and for the family’s food. He earns about P50 each day.
On the day of the robbery, a man in a cap calle the boy and said someone wanted to buy bread. When he approached, someone hugged him from behind, covered his mouth, and pointed a knife at him. The man took P200. Not only that, the robber took his only livelihood, his pandesal box. He didn’t want to go home right away for fear his mother would scold him.
After the robbery, the boy no longer wanted to sell pandesal and insisted his mom accompany him to school.
Since posting, the video was shared 21,866 times.
This 11 year old pandesal vendor was robbed by a man
We thought it was just going to be another case of a viral post that would soon be forgotten, but we’re happy to report that people are actually doing something to help the boy.
Caloocan City mayor Oscar Malapitan and the city’s public information chief Nolan Sison, the boy’s mother will receive a “certificate of livelihood starter package” worth P20,000 so she can start a business.
The police are also investigating the incident, saying they would pursue the case as soon as they identify the robber, even if the boy’s mother would not file charges.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will also undergo psycho-social debriefing to recover from the trauma, and will receive educational assistance, as well as become a beneficiary of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Christopher uploaded these photos on Facebook, with the message, “Pinararating po ng magulang ng bata at ng bata na si Mark Christian (Kokey) ang kanilang taos pusong pasasalamat sa inyong pagtulong.” (Mark Christian (Kokey) and his parents send their heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped)
We’re happy that even if the government is getting a lot of flak, there are still kind souls who are willing to help those in need.
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Robbed Pandesal Vendor Gets the Attention of Netizens, Media, and Government
