EDITORIAL - No amount of intervention better than good guidance

Five minors are now in trouble after they allegedly mauled another minor, a 13-year-old girl, during a disco in Barangay Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City.

As of this writing, three of the minor suspects, aged 14, 15, and 16, have surrendered to authorities. They, along with the victim, will undergo “intervention” from social workers.

Aside from being minors, all involved in the incident --the victims, the suspects, and the one who recorded the beating on her phone-- were allegedly members of the same gang.

So yes, it would seem that some kids will think nothing of beating up a girl, who just also happens to be a minor, as well as part of their own gang.

If this is how some minors think nowadays, we should be worried. It would seem that some of them no longer have qualms when it comes to attacking others. The fact that they are in a gang is also another warning sign.

And again we would like to call the attention of parents to be better guides and examples to their children. They should be in the business of knowing their children’s business. It’s 1 a.m.; do you know where your child is?

We don’t want to pontificate but it’s the lack of a strong parental presence that drives many young people to others whom they see a guiding figure, but who may not be a role model at all. It’s also the lack of love and attention at home that drives them to seek some semblance of the same in the company of others who may be misguided as well.

In this age, the allure of “gang life” is being given so much praise in various forms of media like TV and music. The young are fooled into thinking this is a lifestyle worth getting into.

They should be taught and guided better. And no amount of intervention from the outside will take the place or be better than proper guidance from the parents themselves.