ILOILO City – A clash of two groups of youngsters in Barangay Aduana-Arsenal, City Proper late night last week has prompted police authorities to intensify law enforcement.
With the coronavirus disease 2019 is still raging, Police Lieutenant Colonel Reuben Siason, deputy city director for operations of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), underscored the need to curb gang violence.
According to Siason, the city police is monitoring the movements of 27 gangs and ready to neutralize them. They were the following:
City Proper
* SPERM (Strong People Real Men)
* BRB (Batang Rebeldeng Brutal)
* Bad Bum
* DOCE (12) Gang
* SPERM Junior
La Paz and Lapuz districts
* LBS (Little Brown Style)
* TBS (True Brown Style
* MBS (Mga Batang Sikat)
* Homeboys
* Guardians
* Gori Gang
* OR (Oliy’s Republic)
Jaro district
* TYGA (Thank You God Always)
* YBG
* PTS (Pinoy Thug Syndicate)
* T-God (Thank God)
* Heart Heart
* TBS (True Brown Style)
* Collins
Molo district
* Roll-up
* LGS
Mandurriao district
* Cool Amigos
* TYGA (Thank You God Always)
* Strong Kids
* STS (Street True Side)
* Barbie
Arevalo district
* MS13 (McStuffins)
Some of these gangs may be regrouping now that classes are taking place mainly in homes due to the pandemic, Siason said.
They tend to recruit students, especially those between 13 to 17 years old, who are “most vulnerable because of curiosity,” he added.
“We are still trying to identify their members. Minors are the ones who are aggressive and often figure in rumbles,” Siason said.
But he said there are gangs, too, helping some projects of the police.
“Indi tanan nga gang members malain. May ara man nga maayo kag may mga projects pa,” Siason said.
For now, one direct intervention the ICPO is taking, according to Siason, is summoning the identified leaders of the gangs to a meeting.
“We can talk to their respective gang leaders to avoid misunderstanding,” said Siason.
The curfew for minors would also be strictly enforced, the police official added.
The police official called out the parents of the gang members. He said they will be held liable, too, for their children breaking the curfew ordinance for minors.
In this city, minors are prohibited from loitering beyond 10 p.m. in restaurants, nightclubs, motels, dancehalls, amusement places such as internet cafés, video arcades, karaoke bars, billiard halls, beach resorts, and other similar establishments.
However, because of the pandemic, Mayor Jerry Treñas intends to impose longer curfew hours for minors – from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Siason said they already deployed more cops to different areas in the city, especially at night.
“We increased the number of our personnel on foot patrol and our patrol cars are roaming around the city. We are doing interventions to maintain peace and order,” Siason said./PN
