THIS YEAR: City police to focus on fraternity violence

Cebu City Police Office director Patrocinio Comendador yesterday said he would create a unit that will concentrate mainly on gang-related crimes and fraternity wars.

Comendador said the unit aims at preventing crimes in the city perpetrated by what he called “street hoodlums” who are members of fraternities and gangs.

“This year, we will focus our law enforcement on gangs and frat wars,” Comendador said, adding that even with the arrest in December of one of Cebu’s wanted men - Aristotle Aves - they are still keeping watch on fraternity violence.

Aves is allegedly a hitman of Alpha Kappa Rho and was believed to be involved in several drive-by shootings in the city.

Last September 21, two men riding on a motorcycle fired upon a group of people at the corner Sanciangko Street and D. Jakosalem Street in barangay Parian, killing Eugene Presbitero and injuring Jonathan Tabada, Benjamin Dilao and Angelito Reyes. 

The place is believed to be a favorite hangout of Tau Gamma Phi members.

Eight days later, two men onboard a motorcycle were shot dead by two men riding another motorcycle at D. Jakosalem Street. The fatalities were identified as Armand Panit, 20, and Dandy Pador, 19, both residents of barangay Tabunan.

Another drive-by shooting - considered the bloodiest - took place on October 4, killing three people died and hurting four others.

Comendador calls the members of gangs and fraternities who commit crimes as “street hoodlums.”

“Once they violate the law, they become street hoodlums but we are not tagging them as criminals,” he said.

Comendador already deployed 95 percent of the city’s police force in the streets to increase police visibility. — Garry B. Lao/LPM