“Ginawa Niyang Tahanan”: Makati Police Investigate Person Coming Out of Drain
A few personal items were found where she emerged.
(SPOT.ph) The Makati City Police have launched a formal investigation into the viral incident involving a woman crawling out of a street drain, confirming that she had been using the canal near a hospital as a temporary shelter.
In a press conference on May 28, Makati City Police Station Chief Police Colonel Jean Dela Torre said that the woman, who is believed to be a mendicant or taong grasa, showed signs of mental illness based on the CCTV footage.
“May problema sa kaniyang pag-iisip,” Dela Torre said.
Police also found pliers, makeshift attachments, and clothing items inside the canal, which had a small open section that the woman had reportedly been using as a resting place.
“Ginawa niyang tahanan,” Dela Torre said. “Napakaliit na kung titingnan mo, imposible ngang magkasya ang isang tao pero 'yung babae, kasyang-kasya siya.”
The Makati Central Estate Association (MaCEA), in coordination with the Makati Public Safety Department (MAPSA), has since sealed the affected drainage access with a metal cover. Increased monitoring has also been ordered in the vicinity.
Also read: LOOK: Woman Crawls Out of Drain in Makati City
What happened to the person from the drain in Makati City?
Hobbyist photographer William—who goes by “Mr. Thirty” on social media—shared his firsthand account of seeing a woman crawl out of a drain at the corner of VA Rufino and Adelantado on May 26. He told SPOT.ph he had just finished a boxing session when he captured the moment on camera.
His pictures went viral on Reddit, prompting wider concern and now an official investigation.
Dela Torre clarified in the same press conference that the woman has not caused harm: “Nanakot lang siya... Nakakatakot lang ang itsura niya kasi maraming grasa sa katawan.”
Because of her perceived mental health condition, Dela Torre says they are unable to arrest her but are coordinating with the Makati Social Welfare Department for possible intervention and assistance. Social workers from Barangay San Lorenzo have also been patrolling the area to locate her.
“Noong nag-viral ‘yung post, hindi tayo nagsayang ng oras… Mabilis ‘yung aksyon ng ating pulis,” Dela Torre said.
Residents are encouraged to report similar sightings to the Makati City Police.
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