'KMJS Gabi ng Lagim’: Security guards narrate chilling experiences at ‘haunted’ impounding area in Marikina

Where else would one find vehicles previously involved in accidents, deadly crashes, and other tragedies, if not a car impounding area?

The MMDA Tumana Impounding Area, located in Tumana, Marikina, has collected a number of abandoned cars since it began operating in 2014.

“Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho’s” Gabi ng Lagim episode ventures into the eerie space, and introduces security guards Marlon Sosmena, Manuelito Buo, and Richard Dionena, who each have their share of scary encounters while on the job.

One of the cars that truly frightens them is the car that got into an accident while passing along the C-5 Ortigas Libis Flyover in Pasig City in September 2021. The accident resulted in the deaths of three passengers and damage to other vehicles involved.

Marlon claims that one of the passenger haunts them every night, appearing at the hood of the heavily-dented car.

Marlon would answer and say, “Huwag mo naman ako takutin. Binabantayan ko lang ‘yung kotse mo. Maawa ka sa ‘kin. Nagtatrabaho lang ako.”

[“You don’t need to scare me. I’m just watching over your car. Have mercy on me. I’m just trying to do my work.”]

Manuelito said that the same unknown entity also visits him.

“Sa tower na ‘yan, diyan ako pumupwesto sa gabi. Makikita ko talaga na mayroong nakaupo siya dyan. Nakaputi lang,” he said.

[“I stay at that tower at night and can clearly see someone sitting there. The figure is dressed in white.”]

During moments alone in the dark, Manuelito would often feel as if something was lurking behind him.

There was also this black van where Richard would hear a voice, asking for help.

“‘Pag nagtatambay ako, nakaupo, minsan kalabitin ka, ihipan ang tenga mo wala naman tao,” he said.

[“When I’m just sitting there, sometimes I feel a tap or a breath on my ear, but no one’s around.”]

In January 2021, a bus caught fire in Commonwealth Avenue, burning two passengers, a female conductor named Amelene and a passenger, to death. It was then uncovered that the two were a couple who argued with each other inside the bus, eventually causing the fire.

“Nagalit ang lalaki kaya sinunog sa loob ng bus ‘yung konduktora. Ang naramdaman ko nu’n, kumalabog doon sa loob ng bus,” Marlon said.

[“The man got angry and set the conductor on fire inside the bus. It felt like there was a loud thud inside it.”]

“Nung pagdating nu’n, nakalapit talaga kami. Parang makita mo talaga na parang may tao doon sa loob na gumagalaw,” Manuelito added.

[“When the bus arrived, we got close enough to really see it. It was almost as if someone was moving inside.”]

According to Richard, the ghosts of the fire victims would haunt them every midnight as they made their rounds in the area, including the bus.

The bus is no longer in the impounding area. However, they think that the spirit of the male passenger stayed.

“Wala na ‘yung bus e. Parang naiwan pa siguro siya dito,” Isagani Delos Santos, another security guard, said.

[“The bus is gone, but it’s like she might have been left behind here.”]

Amelene’s mother, Flordeliz, said that the couple’s argument stemmed from jealousy.

When they were fighting inside the bus, Amelene’s partner, Edwin, kept her inside the burning vehicle.

Flordeliz said she’s not surprised that Amelene’s soul still wanders around.

“‘Yung biglaan na pagkamatay. Hindi niya rin ma-accept na ganun. Sabi pa nga niya daw, ‘Paano ‘yung mga anak natin?’ Ganun daw ang last na sinabi dun nu’ng sunugin.” she said.

[“Maybe she couldn’t accept her suddend death. She even said, ‘What about our children?’ That’s what she supposedly said before he set her on fire.”]

Amelene’s daughter, Yumi, would dream about her mom asking her why she died.

Paranormal investigator weighs in

Paranormal investigator Mary Cuevas and “Misteryo” host Ryan Eigenmann visited the area to talk to the spirits. They set up CCTV cameras in different parts of the impounding area, and Mary noticed odd figures.

“Ang daming lumabas sa screen, hindi rin kasi siya insect or dust na sasabihin natin kasi bilog. Tsaka meron siyang specific direction na pinupuntahan, yung iba lumiliko rin naman sa ibang direction. Naging active ‘yung mga entities or spirits na nandito sa place na to. ‘Yung puting lumiliko, it’s a lambana,” she said.

[“Many things appeared on the screen, and it couldn’t be an insect or dust because it’s round. It also seemed to be moving in a specific direction, while others went in different ways. The entities or spirits in this place became very active. That white figure is a lambana.”]

As Mary and the guards roved around, they felt as if something was holding them back.

Meanwhile, one of the KMJS crew mentioned that it seemed like they were being discouraged from going there because the audio died just before they started.

Isagani felt as if something went inside his body and moved around his scalp, while Marlon was burdened by a heavy sensation.

When they visited the car that often frightened them, Mary said that she sensed the presence of supernatural beings nearby.

Meanwhile, Ryan tried approaching the black van, but he felt an uncomfortable vibe.

“Out of-- sa lahat ng stations na pinuntahan natin, itong auction area… itong pangatlo, balik na tayo dun, medyo hindi ko gusto ‘yung— Balik na tayo dun and let's meet up with our paranormal expert,” he said.

[“Out of all the stations we visited, this auction area... this third one felt different. Let’s go back there and meet up with our paranormal expert.”]

Ryan admitted that he missed doing such activities.

“I would say na aside from the paranormal experience na ma-experience mo when you go to places like this, it's more of the ano rin, a big part of it rin is learning about the history of where you go. Kasi doon naman nagmumula lahat yung mga kwento nila,” he said.

[“I would say that, aside from the paranormal experiences you have when visiting places like this, a significant part of it is also learning about the history of the locations. That’s where all their stories originate.”]

In hopes of giving the wandering souls peace, Mary and the security guards performed a cleansing routine.

“Ang payo ko lang dun sa mga guard, huwag silang matakot kasi normal reaction natin ‘yun dahil lahat naman tayo bukas ang third eye natin, magkakaiba lang tayo ng level,” Mary said.

[“My advice to the guards is not to be afraid. We all have our third eye open; we just experience it at different levels.”]

Chino Corpus, a video expert, explained that the orb seen in the CCTV footage is dust, not orbs.

“Actually, alikabok siya. Sa mga hindi kasi sanay, ang alikabok kasi attracted sila sa heat. So, pag naalala mo yung video, meron kasi doon light post tapos nandito yung CCTV. So, yung light post na yun, mainit yun. Yung init na yun, nagke-create yun ng air current. Yung air current na yun, yun yung pinaka-humihila sa alikabok,” Chino said.

[“Actually, the things caught on camera were dust. Dust is attracted to heat. If you remember the video, there was a light post nearby, and the CCTV was positioned here. That light post generates heat, which creates an air current that pulls in the dust.”]

Chino also added that because there’s a light post nearby, dust can absorb and reflect light, making it appear like an orb. Since the CCTV’s shutter speed isn’t as fast as that of professional cameras, it captures the dust as a blur, enhancing the orb-like appearance in the footage.

Psychiatrist Randy Dellosa explained that night shift guards at the impound lot often experience strange sensations near accident-damaged vehicles, as spirits are believed to be more active at night.

"Siguradong maapektuhan ‘yung mga gwardiya dahil aandar yung fight or flight response nila eh. So, nag-i-imagine sila, meron silang paniniwala na baka may multo or something. So, matatakot sila, and dahil doon, mananerbyos sila, so ‘yun na ‘yung either lalaban sila or tatakbo," Dellosa said.

[“Because of the history of the vehicles, the guards may hold certain beliefs. These beliefs can trigger fear or their fight or flight response.”]

He added that knowing the tragic histories of the cars intensifies the guards' fear, creating anxiety.

Meanwhile, the chief of Towing and Impounding Group of MMDA Reden Acoba has a reminder for the guards in the area.

“The most important thing is not to let fear take over, so they can perform their tasks well,” he said.

—JCB, GMA Integrated News