Neo-Manila - KOLATERAL, BLKD

But in Davao I used to do it personally.

And I go around Davao in a motorcycle…

Tugis (Tugis)

Ano pa mang tulis (Tulis)

Madulas man ang kutis (Kutis)

Sapul sa pagtugis (Tugis)

Disoras ng gabi

Kulay purong kape

Tropang makapal ang porma

Harurot-motor sa pagronda

Toka-toka umattack

May pilotong lookout, back-up

May birador, may tagatiyak

May patagong nag-aambag

Tugis (Tugis)

Ano pa mang tulis (Tulis)

Madulas man ang kutis (Kutis)

Sapul sa pagtugis (Tugis)

Mga anino sa dilim

Kung magmanman maigting

Kulong sa ruta praningning

Pagtambang tumbang mahimbing

Takdang lugar sinusuyod

Hanggang lulong matunton

Paspasan lang sumusugod

Pagplakda, takas motor

Coordinated ang barangay

Mga CCTV’t ilaw patay

Mga tanod bumagal umaksyon

Sa timbreng oras at lokasyon

Tugis (Tugis)

Ano pa mang tulis (Tulis)

Madulas man ang kutis (Kutis)

Sapul sa pagtugis (Tugis)

May bangkay na tinataniman

May tine-tape, babala sa giyang

May tinatapong pahirapan

May sa lamay binabalikan

Pinapalitan kada bungo

Ilang libong pisong madugo

Buhay na buhay mga tropang

Hanap-buhay magnakaw ng buhay

Tugis (Tugis)

Ano pa mang tulis (Tulis)

Madulas man ang kutis (Kutis)

Sapul sa pagtugis (Tugis)

«Dati patago-tago lang nung nag-uumpisa palang ako ng pagpatay.

Pero ngayon mas

malakas na ang loob ko na may back-up kang pulis, tapos utos pa ng sa taas.

Kaya hindi ka na matatakot pumatay.»

But in Davao I used to do it personally.

And I go around Davao in a motorcycle…

The hunt

No matter how sharp

However slick the surface

Always on target

Late into the night

Dark like pure coffee

A gang in thick gear

Doing their rounds, motors revving

Attacking with coordinated precision

There’s the pilot, the look-out, the back-up

The hitman, the cross checker

The secret donor

The hunt

No matter how sharp

However slick the surface

Always on target

Shadows in the dark

Surveying the area intensely

Stick to the route, spreading anxiety

Ambush till the target drops softly

Combing the site

Until the addict is found

Recklessly assault

When he drops, they drive off

The barangay / town hall has been tipped off

Street lamps and CCTV cameras turned off

Officers drag their feet

Acting only at the cued time and place

The hunt

No matter how sharp

However slick the surface

Always on target

Planting evidence on the corpses

Taped-up junkie, wrapped up in warnings

Some tortured and flung

Some friends and family targeted during their loved ones' wakes

In exchange for every skull

Thousands of pesos in blood money

Those who kill for a living are making a killing from the living

«I used to be so furtive when I was just starting out as an assassin.

But now I’m much braver because you’ve got police backing you up,

and there’s instructions from the top.

That’s why you’re no longer afraid to

kill…»