Police seize pool cues at a gambling match in the Philippines

[1eyedhustler]

I got caught jaywalking across a street where I saw other (Filipino) people also walking across. The traffic enforcer (a good description) whistled and yelled for me to stop, so I did, on the island in the middle of the street. He rushed over to me (another rich foreigner!) and was quickly joined by three or four other enforcers. They asked for my ID, so I showed them my passport, which they promptly grabbed away from me. I was given a brief lecture on where I should have crossed the street (about a block away) and told me I would be fined before I could get my passport back (only your most valuable possession when traveling overseas). They debated among themselves and decided my fine was 500P (about $10). I tried to negotiate a lower price to no avail and finally had to pay them 500P to get my passport back. The high cost of taking a walk in Manila!

That's it. I learned my lesson the first time, after that if they tried to pull me over I sped off on side streets to lose any potential motorbike cop.. I never ever got caught the rest of the 3 years I was there.. Also Sari Sari stores have foreigner pricing at many but not all..

One thing Jay, you never give them an ID of any kind. Just tell them you left it at home and offer 50 pesos.. The going rate for locals is 10 to 50 pesos so they will either take the 50 or negotiate to 100.. 100 pesos is half a days work for the average poor filipino..