Choosing whether to report Penduko in Hapunan determines whether Niko survives his ordeal in Barangay Sak Dudol or dies before rescuing his father. If you report Penduko to the victim's family and later confirm the shooting to the Sakdudol village head, you unlock the "Snitch on Penduko" Steam achievement, resolve a key misunderstanding with Penduko at the finale, and secure the factory gate key to trigger the game's main canon ending. Conversely, attempting to protect Penduko's secret leads directly to Niko being shot dead.
When Do You Get the Choice to Report Penduko?
The opportunity to expose Penduko occurs on Niko's second morning working at the chicken farm outside Sakdudol Village. After waking up to an argument near the livestock coops, Niko looks out the window to see Penduko executing a subordinate who embezzled farm money to pay for his child's medical surgery.
Once Penduko leaves the crime scene, Niko interacts with the fallen worker and picks up a family photo before the victim's phone rings. The game then presents a sequence of moral decisions:
- The Phone Call: The deceased worker's young son calls, followed by the victim's wife. You can choose whether to tell the truth about the murder and whether to name Penduko as the shooter. An eavesdropping ranch hand overhears if you name Penduko and walks away.
- The Village Head's Investigation: The following morning, the Sakdudol village head arrives at Niko's door accompanied by two village police officers, stating they received a report about a shooting. Niko is asked directly to confirm the event and identify the shooter.
What Happens When You Report Penduko?
Choosing to tell the truth sets several critical story flags in motion across the remaining chapters of Hapunan:
- The Arrest: Niko names Penduko to the village head. Police officers locate and handcuff Penduko two hours later. While the village head acknowledges Penduko's role in protecting the village, he orders him detained.
- The Retaliation Threat: Before Penduko is escorted away, a farm hand publicly exposes Niko as the informant who reported him. Penduko warns that he will settle the score once he is free, forcing a terrified Niko to hide inside his bathroom until farm manager Adrian checks in on him.
- Achievement Unlocked: Confirming the truth about Penduko satisfies the requirements for the official Steam achievement titled Snitch on Penduko ("Tell the truth about Penduko").
- Police Escalation: With Penduko locked up, the village head takes control of the territory. Two police officers order Niko to operate an incubator to craft trays of balut, and Niko eventually spots the police locking his father inside the old factory.
The Finale: Surviving the Confrontation
Reporting Penduko leads to an unexpected resolution during the final chapter. After Tatay Lorenzo reveals that the old factory gate key was entrusted to Penduko's daughter, Jane (Jayn), Niko visits Jane's house to retrieve it.
Penduko—having escaped custody—suddenly appears, enraged that Niko reported him to the authorities. However, when Niko explains that he is only trying to rescue his father from being locked inside the factory, the following events occur:
- Clearing the Misunderstanding: Penduko is shocked to learn that Niko's father was imprisoned. Penduko realizes that the village police took the father on the village head's orders rather than his own, and that he did not know Jane held the key.
- Receiving the Key: Realizing Niko was not working against him maliciously, Penduko drops his anger, apologizes for his previous harsh treatment, and instructs Jane to hand the factory key to Niko.
- Reaching the Main Ending: Because Penduko remains in hiding from the police, Niko sneaks past the factory guards alone, unlocks the gate, reunites with his father, and escapes through the streets into Sakdudol Village.
What Happens If You Do Not Report Penduko?
Staying silent or lying to protect Penduko leads to an immediate game over for Niko:
- If you withhold Penduko's identity from the victim's family and lie to the village head, the confrontation at Jane's house changes drastically.
- Penduko forbids Jane from handing over the factory key to Niko.
- The game presents Niko with options to demand the key or confess that he witnessed the shooting but kept quiet to protect Penduko.
- If Niko admits that he saw the murder, Penduko becomes furious that Niko exposed his deadly actions directly in front of his daughter, Jane.
- Penduko draws his pistol and shoots Niko dead on the spot. Jane screams and flees into the night, ending the playthrough in failure.
Key Choices and Narrative Consequences
| Choice Pathway | Penduko's Status | Jane Interaction | Final Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report Penduko to Village Head | Detained by police, later confronts Niko in hiding | Jane provides the factory key with Penduko's consent | Misunderstanding clears; Niko rescues his father (Main Canon Ending) |
| Keep Silent / Hide Murder | Remains free longer; stops Jane at the finale | Hears Niko reveal Penduko's crime in front of her | Penduko executes Niko on the spot (Bad Ending) |
| Mistreat Jane (Call Her a Nuisance) | Learns Niko insulted his daughter | Cold toward Niko; reports mistreatment to Penduko | Penduko shoots Niko dead for disrespecting Jane |
| Spare Kyle Early in the Game | Shot by Kyle at Jane's doorstep | Shot alongside Penduko by Kyle | Kyle kills Jane and Penduko; Niko takes the key from Jane's body |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does reporting Penduko stop you from getting the factory key?
No. While Penduko is initially angry when he confronts Niko outside Jane's house, telling him about your father being trapped inside the factory makes Penduko realize the arrest was orchestrated by the village police. Penduko then orders Jane to give Niko the key.
How do you get the Snitch on Penduko achievement?
You earn the Snitch on Penduko Steam achievement by answering truthfully when questioned about the farmer's murder, identifying Penduko as the gunman to the authorities.
Can Niko rescue his father without reporting Penduko?
No. If you choose not to report Penduko, he refuses to let Jane hand over the key. When Niko reveals the truth in front of Jane during the confrontation, Penduko executes Niko, preventing you from reaching the factory and completing the escape into Sakdudol Village.
