Here’s a slightly OT post dedicated to one Ryan Soriano or djwoblely, originally from Alaska, USA and currently a DLSU MBA graduate student. The short summary is this: he is in possession of my stolen MacBook Pro and was selling the same in clear violation of the Philippine Anti-fencing law.
The story actually starts October of 2008, when our home was broken into by unidentified suspects. The MacBook Pro was one of the items stolen. Last March 17, friends pointed out a Sulit.com.ph ad (inactive now) posted by one djwoblely that was selling a MacBook Pro with the same serial number as my stolen laptop. I checked out the local Macintosh Users Group forum and saw that the same person had posted a similar ad on Philmug.ph. I immediately tried contacting the seller and the Mandaluyong PNP to arrange an entrapment operation but decided against it at the last minute (the 14 green years in me told me to take a more compassionate approach). Good for Ryan Soriano, bad for me, as I would soon find out.
I talked with Ryan Soriano twice. Our conversations (1 and 2) plus the messages he left on the Philmug thread and through PM all indicated that he was going to return the stolen MacBook Pro to me. But as luck would have it, this Ryan Soriano had other plans for the MBP. I agreed to give him a week to downgrade and get his files. Mr. Soriano probably used the 1 week to get his girlfriend’s mom, Atty. Epifania “Fanny” G. Obias to help him come up with a plan to keep the laptop. Ryan Soriano later PMs me that mommy dearest is now the custodian of the stolen laptop. Touching no?
Fast forward to today. After countless attempts to get Ryan Soriano and Atty. Epifania Obias to return the stolen laptop failed, I’ve decided to get help from the cops, the media, and the Philippine online community in general. If there’s one thing that should stick, it’s the fact that Ryan Soriano and Atty. Epifania Obias are in possession of my stolen MacBook Pro and have chosen to ignore all attempts to peacefully surrender this stolen item to me, despite providing all legal documents to prove that I’m the laptop’s rightful owner.
Me and a handful of Philmuggers believe that Internet vigilantism can ultimately force Ryan Soriano and Atty. Epifania Obias to return the stolen MacBook Pro. If you want to help out, blog about the case. The more people talking about the specifics of the case in public, the more painful it becomes for Ryan Soriano and Atty. Epifania Obias to hold on to the stolen item.
Read the epic Philmug thread detailing the case of Ryan Soriano and the stolen MacBook Pro, all 560 posts (and counting). It makes for one interesting Holy Week read.
Thanks for your support:
April 11th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Hi macalua. I read just last night the entire 60+ pages of thread about your stolen MBP. I cheered for you all the way. I think we all ought to be vigilant, we should support victims of thieves - too many think they can just get away with stealing and fencing.
Today I tried to access the Philmug forum again to follow up on developments about this case but I couldn’t access the site. Even your link does not work. I also tried technogra.ph which blogged about this but the post is no longer available.
What’s wrong? Any developments?
I think you should also file a disbarment case against that lawyer. She gives lawyering a really bad name.
April 14th, 2009 at 12:09 am
“immediately tried contacting the seller and the Mandaluyong PNP to arrange an entrapment operation but decided against it at the last minute (the 14 green years in me told me to take a more compassionate approach).” — tsk. tsk. tsk. there is a difference between mercy and “justice” if not a thin line, at least a visible mark that selling stolen items is immoral. you should have done an entrapment operation and bust his ass before when you had the chance.
how come he had it in his possession?
im not good with law pero may laban ka naman kasi may documents ka naman like apple warranty to prove that the mac is yours, right?
April 16th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
What Makes you think you have the right to do this to Someone without knowing his side of the Sorry.. What Kind of loser trashes someone without getting both sides.. I am sure he paid money for the Laptop and What he should Just give it up taking the loss?? Why didn’t you inform Mac about your Laptop being stolen and had them loook out for it.. Oh you didn’t??? Why not??? You act like you did everything right when you didn’t.. Don’t hold one person to blame when he is not the one who stole He was only a victim for a Fencer and Now an internet bully that is too big of loser to know he is wrong too…. If he gave you back the laptop then he would be the only one here to lose.. You get your laptop back and Win as a bully.. How is this Justice?? Your a criminal now too you’re Harassing someone Publicly and I hope he sues you and your company..
April 29th, 2009 at 9:16 am
man,yeah you mikey, try to visit and read the saga on philmug thread so that you’ll understand.
May 1st, 2009 at 2:54 pm
I feel for the loss Marc, pero naks nakakatakot ka pala, I mean you’re so powerful and you get support from a ton of people. You must be really bad-ass huh
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:09 am
Mikey said:
“I am sure he paid money for the Laptop and What he should Just give it up taking the loss??”
It’s stolen property. That’s the way it works.
Is this him:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ryan-Soriano/639367026
?
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:51 am
Hmmm you still a chance marc you have names and you have information perhaps you can pull around some string and ask the school where he’s studying to do something about it. As for the police and media have you thought of going to imbestigador? I think they will be up for a surprise on this.
May 17th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
what the hell this is stupied, you all are accusing ryan like he stol it, like he went to ur house and stole he, he just bought it on line some fellow, so haha the the original owner you suck your never gonna get it back coz u have no right, ryan tried to bring u to courth and fite there but u chickend out so its ur faulth get a lawer and go to court like he planed befor but you just chickend out so it seems u have some thing to hide, the point he has the right o keep it as he already paid for it.
May 21st, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Read your blog and all you keep saying is to get the police or media to help you but never gets around to doing it. If you can prove that its yours then why cant you file a case against him? Seems to me that theres a problem on your part also. Perhaps you do not have the receipts or warranty that came with your laptop? I doubt anyone with an DLSU MBA can be that stupid to sell that laptop and posting the serial number on numerous websites if hes the one who stole it. Bottom line is get off your ass stop complaining and meet him in court head on!! Good luck to you hope you get it back!
June 21st, 2009 at 9:09 pm
this is gay. why would u bash someone on the internet! boohoo!! u lost ur laptop. what if the people that broke in your house came back to ur house again?! i too got robbed in my own apartment and stole my $3000 laptop while i was still in the house!! ur still lucky to be breathing u cry baby! geez delete ur stupid useless blog that nobody reads and just get ur donation on philmug and wish the theives dont come back to ur condo again!!
September 10th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
I just found this blog and posts about him… I just bought an M-audio Studio Pro 3 from him and it is damaged… i paid him 4700… What a loss,, im waiting for him to contact me before i take actions… i have to get this back to him.. if not, i will contact authorities…
September 13th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
This is a really sad story and I feel for you. You should have known this software before that unlikely event have happened but anyway, you can still check this out.
Whether or not you’ll get the laptop back, I’m sure that you can still have something better.
Don’t mess up your blog with rants, you’re way better than this.
Best of luck,
Math
http://softwarecritics.info/software/software-to-protect-laptops-from-being-stolen/
October 9th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
will you spend a ton of money for something and not check if the item is legit? of course that Ryan Soriano knows the item is stolen. and like those other people who’s got a habit of buying stolen goods, im sure he had bough stolen items to the same person before. and we’re all aware that ryan soriano is aware that he bought a stolen item for a very low price- that is if Ryan Soriano is not connected with the people who stole the laptop. it’s 50/50- either that Ryan Soriano is with the thieves or Mr. R Soriano bought the stolen item knowingly to get a good gadget for a lot less. either way, Ryan Soriano is a criminal. there’s NO Way Ryan Soriano is not guilty on this.
January 14th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Nice pose by Ryan at Jaro, Iloilo City!
July 5th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
You should have pushed for the entrapment when you had the chance. There is an anti-fencing law so why didn’t you sue him in court.
All the blogs in the world cannot get your laptop back.
Do it the legal way.