CCPO to press charges vs group involved in a dawn scuffle

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has reiterated that it would file alarm and scandal charges against those individuals involved in a scuffle along Gen. Maxilom Avenue, Barangay Kamputhaw on Saturday dawn.

There will be no tolerance this time, said Police Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog, the CCPO director, in a press conference Monday.

Dalogdog said they would file cases to prevent it from happening again, reiterating that this was the second time a riot has happened between groups of youth in Cebu City this year.

The first one recorded was three months ago, and the suspects were freed with no charges filed.

Dalogdog said they held a meeting in the afternoon right after the incident with Kamputhaw barangay captain, and City Councilor Philip Zafra, the chairperson for peace and order committee.

Dalogdog said Zafra supported their measure, stressing not to tolerate the incident.

"Yung city government represented by honorable Philip Zafra ay hindi nila tino-tolerate even kami mga kapulisan gusto namin na masampahan ng kaso yung mga kabataan na yun...dahil hindi lang to first time nangyari pangalawang beses nato,” said Dalogdog.

On Saturday, two groups of youth violently fought against each other along Gen. Maxilom Avenue at precisely around 4:30 a.m.

The incident was caught on a video camera and uploaded on social media, which later went viral.

Dalogdog said the feud between the two groups could have been due to jealousy, which started when somebody from the other group approached a woman who happened to be with the other group, who were with her male friends drinking in the area.

They confronted each other, which eventually led to a fight until the police arrived and stopped them.

Both parties amicably settled when they were brought for discussion at the CCPO, said Dalogdog. — Robhe Jane Yara with Romeo D. Marantal, GMR (FREEMAN)