Gangs threaten teachers in Lagtang

Gangs

School officials of Lagtang Elementary School in Talisay City have raised the alarm over the recruitment activities of gangs Crips and Bloods in their campus.

The school's principal, Nanette Garrido, reported to the Talisay City Police Office that aside from the recruitment activities, members of the two gangs go to the extent of threatening teachers, who reprimand misbehaving gang members.

The lack of a perimeter fence makes it easy for members of these gangs to go near the classrooms said acting Talisay City Police Chief Audie Villacin.

It has been reported that some of these gang members would even peek into the classrooms while classes are going on, which makes many teachers uneasy.

The gangs are reportedly recruiting pupils from grades three and four to join their groups.

Villacin has assured the school officials that the Talisay police would step up its patrols in the area.



Meanwhile, DepEd Cebu City Schools Superintendent Leonilo Oliva admitted that his office has received complaints about presence fraternities in schools from administrators of public schools in their jurisdiction.

Oliva said that while they are constantly doing surveillance on the presence of these fraternities in the schools, the hazing and initiation rites are done outside the school premises and after class hours, which makes it hard for them to catch these fraternity members.

"Schools are supposed to be helped by the community. This is hard for us because we can't watch over these children all the time when they are outside the school. That is why we are asking the help of our barangay officials and the police because we can't do the whole thing alone. We have heard so many reports, but when we are doing our investigation, these children seem to have their oath of secrecy and we can't directly accuse them without any evidence," he said.

Oliva added that they are also holding regular meetings of the Parents Teachers Association regarding the matter to seek help from the parents to watch over their children and not cover up for their acts.

He added that there is already a DECS order banning all fraternities and sororities inside the school campus, however, despite the presence of the order, fraternities manage to recruit school children. - Liv G. Campo and Jasmin Uy