Police intensify campaign versus gang-related crimes

CEBU, Philippines - Following recent gang-related criminality the past days, Cebu City Police Director Ramon Melvin Buenafe directed all police stations in the city to monitor gang-related activities in their respected jurisdictions. 

“Ato nang gi-direct ning mga chief of police aning mga gang-gangs nga migara napud,” Buenafe told The FREEMAN. He said police visibility will be intensified by increasing patrols and the number of checkpoints in the city.

 “We are still conducting crime prevention efforts para kon makakita ning mga grupoha (gangs) nga naay police, di na sila mo pada-yon pagbuhat og crimen,” Buenafe said. 

He said the city police is keeping an eye on three barangays, including Carreta, Ermita and Hipodromo where gangs are reportedly very active.

Buenafe urged parents to be more active in monitoring the activities of their children to prevent them from participating in what police calls as “gangsterrism.”

“Ato nga giwarningan ang mga members aning gangs nga Bloods and Crips nga moundang sila sa ilang mga criminal activities kay ang atong kapolisan di moundang sa pagsikop kanila,” he said.

Last week, a series of gang-related shootings claimed three lives of three people.

The first incident happened on Friday, August 5, when a member of the Crips gang was shot dead in Barangay Carreta by alleged members of rival gang Bloods.

The next day, August 6, another alleged gang member who clung on to a public utility jeepney was also shot dead.

The third fatality was a male teenager believed to be around 15 to 16 years old who was shot dead by unidentified men on board a motorcycle along Acacia Street corner Rosal Street in Barangay Camputhaw, last Saturday afternoon.

A security guard who saw two motorcycles, each with two passengers, speeding off from the victim towards Escario Street seconds after the shooting. The unidentified victim stands five feet tall and had a small build. He was wearing a white shirt and light yellow green shorts at that time. He sustained fatal gunshot wounds on the left side of his head and neck.   - (THE FREEMAN)