JANUARY 26, 2026 — EDSA never fails to deliver drama. Just when you think traffic is the only thing to survive on that highway, a man suddenly turns the morning rush into a viral spectacle — clinging to vehicles, blocking cars, even attempting to ride motorcycles. 

Motorists near Buendia last Thursday were left shocked, alarmed, and, let’s be honest, curious. Who was this man? What was he running from? And why did it take a chase involving bystanders, MMDA, and DOTr personnel before he was finally subdued at a gasoline station?

The video, uploaded by ‘Kuya Mar on the road’, quickly made rounds online. His narration captured the chaos:

“Pagtingin ko yung lalaki na ‘yun sumasakay dun sa gilid ng sasakyan. Pagka humihinto eh pumipili ulit ng ibang sasakyan, pinapara tapos sasakay ulit. So napansin namin, gumawa na po ako ng paraan para mapigilan, nag-ano na po ako, nag-ingay para mapansin ng ibang mga tao.”

(When I looked, that man was clinging to the side of a vehicle. When it stopped, he picked another car, flagged it down, then clung again. So I tried to intervene, made noise so others would notice.)

It sounds like a scene straight out of an action movie, except this was real life — and real danger. Imagine being a motorist suddenly confronted with someone clinging to your car door. Do you stop? Do you drive faster? Do you risk confrontation? These are not questions commuters expect to face on a weekday morning.

The man, when caught, claimed he was running for his life. He said women from Boni were chasing him, allegedly wanting him dead. Police later clarified that no one was after him. Still, his fear was palpable. 

Was this a case of paranoia, mental distress, or something darker?

Makati Police Sub-Station 6 took him in, waiting for possible complainants. 

Police Captain Philadiane Fronee Clemeña explained, “So dinala namin dito, sir, yung tao. Pagdating naman dito, sir, nag-antay kami kung sino po yung magiging complainant natin or sino ba yung gustong magsampa ng kaso sa kanya, kasi baka mamaya may nabuksan siyang sasakyan o may nadukutan. So far, wala naman po.”

(We brought him here, sir. We waited for anyone who might complain or file a case, maybe if he opened a car or stole something. So far, none.)

No criminal record. No warrant. No complainants. Just a man, a viral video, and a city left scratching its head. Allegations surfaced online linking him to theft in Batangas, but again — no formal complaint. Under Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code, police had no choice but to release him after 12 hours. Otherwise, they themselves could face charges of illegal detention.

Mental health, public safety, and the power of viral videos in shaping narratives — all of it hinged on one chaotic scene along EDSA. We laugh, we share, we comment. But what if next time, someone gets hurt? What if the man himself ends up a casualty?

(Image: Kuya Mar on the road | Facebook)