CEBU, Philippines – A 14-year-old boy who was heading home from a dance landed in the hospital after he and his companions were attacked by alleged members of a gang in Barangay Tejero, Cebu City dawn last Sunday.
The minor, a resident of the neighboring Barangay Carreta, suffered a stab wound.
SPO2 Rommel Bancog of the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office said that while at the dance in Barangay T. Padilla, the victim reportedly told his companions that they should not back down from a fight.
“Bai, basta naa’y manghilabot nato, dili ta managan ha, manukol ta (if someone attacks us, we should not run but fight),” he was quoted as saying.
When his group was walking at around 4:30 a.m., a group of alleged gangsters showed up and started attacking them. The victim’s companions were able to run away fast but the victim was left behind and was beaten up by the attackers, one of whom stabbed him on the side.
The boy is now at the Cebu City Medical Center and is in a stable condition.
Bancog said it is possible that the attackers heard what the boy said at the dance.
Bancog advised parents not to let their children, especially those under legal age, to stay out late at night. —/JMO (FREEMAN)