2 teens nabbed for abusing 8 kids

MANILA, Philippines - Two teenagers were arrested yesterday afternoon for allegedly beating and using cigarettes to burn eight children as part of a rite to initiate them into a street gang, which they claimed to be a fraternity, in Disiplina Village, Valenzuela City.

Regan Buen, 18, and Mario Reyes, 19, were identified as “fraternity masters” by the eight children, whose ages ranged from 11 to 14, Valenzuela police chief Senior Superintendent Rhoderick Armamento said yesterday.

Archemedes Pangandoyong, 55, was arrested when he tried to prevent police officers from making arrests in the village.

Armamento told The STAR that the parents of the children sought the assistance of Councilor Tony Espiritu, chairman of the city council’s task force on fraternities and gang intervention and prevention, last Tuesday after their children went home with cigarette burns and contusions.

Buen and Reyes reportedly recruited the children to join the San Francisco-Novaliches Gang.

Armamento said the children told police that they were being urged to smoke marijuana and to fight with members of rival street gangs.

Pain or pleasure 

One of the girls told police they were made to choose between “hirap o sarap (pain or pleasure)” during the initiation rite, according to Armamento.

“If they choose pain they are subjected to initiation but if they choose pleasure, they will be molested,” he said. The girls – there were reportedly three – chose pain, which involved being beaten and burned.  

Members of the Valenzuela police women’s and children’s protection unit and social workers accompanied the children’s parents in a raid on Disiplina Village, but Pangandoyong and other residents tried to prevent police officers from making arrests, according to Armamento.

Most of the residents of Disiplina Village had been relocated by the city government. The suspects said they were forced to form a group as protection against other gangs, Armamento said.

Buen and Reyes were initially charged with physical injuries in relation to the child abuse law, but Armamento said they are also going to charge the two teenagers with violating the anti-hazing law.