Regulate gangs, police tells Bogo City officials

If Bogo City wants to curb the rise of teenage drug users and violent youth gangs, it should pass an ordinance regulating membership in these groups.

This was the suggestion of Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, Cebu provincial police chief, who said the police can’t arrest these gangs based on membership alone unless a crime is actually committed.

He confirmed that the youth gang originated from Cebu City and spread to the province.

“The crime trend in Bogo City is decreasing. They (LGUs) can make legislation (on gang membership). It’s a matter of advocacy,” Comendador said.

Comendador said parents should monitor their children to know if they are members of a gang.

He said the police can conduct more “aggressive patrols” to monitor members.

Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale said it was good that Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr. sought the help of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to act on illegal drug activities involving minors in Bogo City.

“I can see the sincerity of the mayor in solving the problem . . . In the same vein, I asked help for the cyberpornography case,” said Magpale, who co-chairs the Provincial Commission for the Welfare of Children (PCWC).

Magpale said she would have to meet with Bogo City officials to discuss the drug situation in their area.

Barangays Banban, Malingin and Cay-ang were identified by Bogo officials as drug hotspots where some public high schools had students selling shabu to classmates.

Mayor Martinez met in Cebu City Tuesday with PDEA representatives to seek help.

Chief Insp. Ceferino Tabay Jr., Bogo City police chief, said they noticed the trend of increasing illegal drug trade in public high schools in November and December of last year.

Tabay said police had difficulty making arrests because the offenders were below 18 years old and can’t be detained under the Juvenile Justice Act.

Magpale said the involvement of minors in the drug trade was one reason to amend the Juvenile Justice Act.

PDEA-7 deputy chief Levi Ortiz said they will investigate Martinez’s claim. Correspondents Rhea Ruth V. Rosell, Carmel Loise Matus and Chito Aragon