Beware of the 'Bukas-Kotse' gang at the South Superhighway

James Ryan Jonas

I’m not usually fond of email forwards but after personally witnessing the “Bukas-Kotse” scumbags perform their modus operandi earlier tonight, I’m inclined to repost the email below to further warn people about this gang.
Around 8 p.m. earlier, I was on a cab to Makati coming from Robinson’s Manila. We were on the intersection of Osmena Highway (South Superhighway) and San Andres. As the traffic lights turned red, I saw one 30-ish man wearing shorts and T-shirt approach the white Honda Civic in front of us.
With full force, the man tried to wriggle open the door of the Civic’s rear passenger side. Fortunately, that door was locked but the man then turned to the backseat. Again, fortunately for the driver, that door was locked as well. While this was happening, the intended victim vigorously honked his horn probably in an attempt to fend off the intruder or to call for help.
The lights have now turned green and as we sped off, I saw the would-be robber walk — would you believe? — very calmly towards the center island. He sat and stayed there, perhaps waiting for his next target.
The cab driver told me that this “Bukas-Kotse” gang frequently attacks this side of town. That’s why whenever he passes by Quirino Avenue and Osmena Highway in Manila, he keeps all car doors locked.
Make sure you do as well. And let your friends, family, and relatives know about these crooks.
Here are similar stories from the email forward I was talking about.
Warning: Quirino Ave. / South Superhighway Horror Stories
For the general commuting public, maging driver ka man o hindi…

Three days ago my driver had an encounter in this area. After dropping me off at work, the driver was on the south bound lane of South Super Highway near the home along the riles housing (near Sunday Machine Works and Designer Depot).
As he came to a full stop at the San Andres intersection stoplight, a man approached the car’s rear passenger side, grabbed the car’s antenna and broke it. The man remained beside the car, apparently waiting for the driver to get down and confront him. Fortunately, the driver remembered my dad’s warnings regarding these types of M.O.s and remained in the car. As the driver sped away, he noticed a group of men on the center island.

A similar incident happened to me along Quirino Avenue somewhere between the Flying V gas station and Iglesia ni Kristo. 3 men approached my car IN BROAD DAYLIGHT! and SLOW TRAFFIC! and tried to open the back doors. Bumusina ako ng tuloy tuloy to BR ward them off. It’s scary ‘coz that area has no patrolling policemen. When they failed to open my car, they tried the other cars naman. I don’t know kung may nabuksan sila.
Then yesterday, while the PMAP rally was going on along Buendia cor. Ayala, as I was about to cross that intersection, two of the rallyists tried to open my car doors again. Again in BROAD DAYLIGHT! WITH A POLICEMAN AROUND! Hay, what the world has come to. I suggest you lock up and make a lot of noise to at least rattle those thieves.

I came from makati and was driving along south super highway (osmena hiway) going towards manila area, nung dumating ako sa maliit na bridge before the DESIGNER DEPOT, ung maliit na bazaar of clothes (corner quirino ave and osmena hiway) , if ur coming from makati and u took buendia or pablo ocampo, mauuna ung bridge before DESIGNER DEPOT.
Yung nasa harap ko is a gold honda civic, all of a sudden may mga lumabas na around 6 or 7 guys who obviously look like squatters who reside along the riles and biglang tinambangan ung civic, pinagsisipa, pinagyugyug, pinagkukutkot ung susian and they were successful in opening the doors.
Tapos nagulat na lang ako isa isa nilang nilabas ung mga gamit na nasa loob nung civic cds, bags, etc. im not sure kung ung driver is a girl or a boy , pero ung driver tinutukan ng kutsilyo… in short parang kinuyob ung civic, btw, ako and ung civic during that time(mga 830 – 9 pm) ay nasa right most ng lane… meaning right side lang namin ung lakaran ng tao…
After robbing… they immediately jump off the bridge and went away… dami nakakita nun pero isang taxi driver lang ang tumigil to check ung condition ng driver…nga pala, may oner na nasa harap ng katabi ng civic, sakay ay mga pulis, 2 lang ata yun, naka purple na uniform (manila police). i dont know kung nakita nila yung incident na yun. pero sa tingin ko naman makikita nila yun. natakot lang dahil 2 lang sila eh and their rusty pistols….
just a friendly warning mga tsong….. kung mag-isa kayo and mejo kita kayo sa loob ng kotse nyo (kahit ano pa yang kotse nyo, luma or bago) try to avoid muna if possible ung osmena hiway at night or better yet try to have another route kasi mejo nagpaparamdam na naman ung mga modus operandi na tulad nun dahil pasko na ulet. if any of u guys have contact sa manila police, paki inform naman sila or just spread this news…

James Ryan Jonas teaches business management, investments, and entrepreneurship at the University of the Philippines (UP). He is also the Executive Director of UP Provident Fund Inc., managing and investing P3.2 Billion ($56.4 Million) worth of retirement funds on behalf of thousands of UP employees.