Stop naming gangs after towns, ethnic communities – lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines - An administration lawmaker wants to stop the practice of the Philippine National Police (PNP) of naming criminal syndicates after towns or ethnic communities.

 “This police predisposition does not only smear and besmirch the name of the town or city but also the innocent people therein,” Misamis Occidental Rep. Henry Oaminal said in filing House Bill 4758.

“We have the Ozamiz gang, the Ilonggo gang and the Waray-Waray gang to name a few. When the suspects have that diction or are friends with one or two from the area, they are dubbed as such,” he said.

“There can be far more congruous ways for the authorities to label felons and criminals,” he added.

Oaminal also noted that when a jewelry shop was robbed by breaking the glass enclosure with hammers, the perpetrators were named the Martilyo gang.

“In another gem robbery wrenches were used to crush the glass container, they were swiftly appended the Wrench gang,” he said.

Under the bill, police authorities who will violate the proposed act face six months to six years in prison.