Metro mayors told: Crack down on youth gangs

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said yesterday it plans to call upon mayors in Metro Manila to deal with at least 233 “destructive” gangs composed mainly of minors engaged in drug-related crimes.

PAOCC commissioner Butch Belgica said in the third quarter of 2008 alone, these Metro Manila-based youth gangs committed at least 79 serious crimes ranging from robbery, inflicting physical injury on another person, murder, auto theft, and payroll heists.

“This year, the PAOCC shall recommend to the mayors and their Councils the institution of ‘Gang Suppression Units’ in towns and cities seriously affected by the phenomena of youth gangs,” he said.

“We will also pursue the review of the Juvenile Justice Law, the implementation of which proves to be a boon in the proliferation of youth gangs,” Belgica added, noting that “many drug-related crimes are attributed to these youth gangs’ activities.”

The Juvenile Justice Law or Republic Act 9344 provides that children 15 years old and below will be “criminally exempt” while youth offenders aged 15 to 18 can be criminally charged only if they acted out the crime “with discernment.”

Belgica cited the presence of chapters of internationally known youth gangs, most of them from the United States, like the True Brown Style, Creeps, Bloods, Reckless Asiatic Gangsta, Vatos Locos, among others.

“Reputedly, they require new recruits to commit robbery and physical violence as part of their initiation rites. Youth gangs with international ties are the most bold and daring in committing crimes, taking advantage of the Juvenile Justice Act,” Belgica said.

The PAOCC said they also noted the proliferation of local multi-chapter gangs in other major urban centers nationwide, and they include the Magic 5, Bahala na Gang, Batang City Jail, Sigue-Sigue Sputnik, Alpha Kappa Rho, Commando, Batang Hamog, Trece Hudas, among others.

“The fraternity crime gang leaders from Metro Manila have expanded their organizations by forming chapters in other communities, recruiting out-of-school youths and some students,” Belgica said.

The Philippine National Police said the proliferation of youth crime gangs could be attributed to several factors: the youth are not likely to be prosecuted for their crimes because they are minors; the proliferation of illegal drugs, which contributed immensely to youth offenders’ tendency to commit crimes, parental neglect and other domestic factors.

Because the police does not have readily available data on the extent of the youth gangs’ crimes save for hazing, the PNP and the National Capital Regional Police Office have recommended the continuous profiling and monitoring of activities of youth, street and criminal gangs, and police visibility in areas where gang wars occur.

The PAOCC, Belgica said, has conducted symposia and seminars in campuses and barangays with the assistance of the PNP, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, local government units and non-government organizations to discuss the problem of “youth gangsterism.”

He said the PAOCC also sought the assistance of “change agents” Caloocan City Rep. Baby Asistio and Quezon City Rep. Vincent “Bingbong” Crisologo, known gang leaders in their youth, to speak to the youth and their parents regarding the problem and its possible eradication.

According to the PAOCC’s list of organized gangs in Metro Manila, there are 17 in Manila; seven in the Eastern Metro Manila; 11 in Southern Metro Manila; 10 in Northern Metro Manila; while no figure was given by Quezon City.

In Northern Metro Manila, the gangs that exist are the 13 Diyablo; 13 Demonyitos; 4 Alas; 4 Manores Gang; Alpha Kappa Rho (Akrho); Black Sheep Gang; Bloods, Bulabog 7; Creeps and Devil’s 12.

In Eastern Metro Manila, the existing gangs monitored were the Alpha Kappa Rho; Alpha Sigma Omega (ASO); M-5 or Magic 5; Original Pinoy Gangstar; Tau Gamma Phi; True Brown Style; Temple Street Trece (TST).

In Manila, the identified gangs include Alpha Phi Omega; Anastacio Gang; Beta Sigma; Black Boys; Orig Pinoy Gangster; PMW; Samahang Batang Teksas-San Andres; Tau Gamma Phi; True Brown Style; Bloodskilla; Commando; Devil’s 12; Eastside; Magic 5; Tong-Tong Flores Gang; Trece Hudas Fraternity and True Creeps.

The gangs known in Southern Metro Manila are the Sigue-Sigue Sputnik Gang; Batang City Jail; Batang Hamog Gang; RIP/COS Gang; Tau Gamma Phi; Blood Gangs; Little Sign Creeps; Original Trouble Maker; Samahang Visaya; True Brown Style and Walang Sawa sa Alak (Sawalak).