11 Bloods members arrested in Labangon

CEBU, Philippines - Elements of Cebu City Police Office arrested the other night 11 members of Bloods during the wake of one of their members who was recently shot and killed allegedly by rival Crips in Barangay Labangon, Cebu City.

The arrest was part of the saturation drive ordered by CCPO director Patrocenio Comendador to prevent possible retaliation from Bloods following the shooting. It was headed by Chief Insp. George Ylanan.

During the saturation drive, police questioned and bodily searched over 100 members of Bloods who were attending the wake of Jermy Vincent Magtagad.

The 19-year-old Bloods member was killed while his companion was wounded after they were shot by three youngsters believed to be members of Crips.

 The body of Magtagad now lies in a chapel in Katipunan, Labangon.

 Ylanan said they arrested 11 members of Bloods after they confiscated from them an improvised shotgun and two icepicks.

 “Purely prevention ra ni amoa kay basta magbilar na sila naa gyud na sila’y kargada nga armas. Ug wala sab namo sila gi-single out kay kadto Crips nga napusilan patay diha sa Guadalupe nag-saturation man sab mi ato ug nakuhaan gyud namo sila og 357 revolver,” Ylanan said.

 Ylanan said that the parents of members of the warring gangs should also help settle their differences.

 “Kami mga pulis igo ra gyud mi sa prevention ug pag-secure sa peace and order pero pag-convince niining mga gangs dako kaayo og papel ang mga parent, kinahanlang tabang sila og monitor sa ilang mga anak,” Ylanan said.

Roselyn Dumaog, 23, a resident of Katipunan, Labangon and an alleged member of Bloods, suffered two gunshot wounds and is now confined at Cebu City Medical Center.

The shooting incident happened around 3:00 a.m. Wednesday along Katipunan Street when three armed youngsters opened fire at the victims.

“Mga unom gyud mi nag-standby kay ika-40 ka adlaw man to sa among kauban nga napusilan patay sab. Basta diritso lang sila og pamusil namo unya sunod-sunod gyud ang buto sa armas. Kaila man mi sa ilang mga angga, mga Crips man to sila nga taga Banawa,” a 16-year-old Bloods member said.

Last November 20, 16-year-old Bloods member John Gilbert Alonzo was killed after unidentified Crips member shot him in the same area where Magtagad and Dumaog were shot. — Ramil V. Ayuman/LPM (THE FREEMAN)