Another group of young men figures in ‘rumble;’ 5 nabbed

CEBU, Philippines — Another group of youngsters in Cebu City will be facing charges for alarm and scandal after being embroiled in an alleged “rumble” along General Maxilom Avenue last Friday night.

The suspects have been arrested and are now under the custody of Abellana Police Station.

According to the station chief, Major Nolan Tagsip, the groups involved come from barangays Lahug and Mambaling.

The Mambaling group consisted of four members who are relatives. Reports said that they were then fetching their friend at General Maxilom but when they arrived at the area, the group from Lahug also arrived and the rumble allegedly ensued.

“Gipareglahan kuno ang grupo sa Mambaling,” police said.

Police will press charges against five young persons aged 22, 24, 19, and 20 years old because they were caught by the police in the middle of the commotion.

Tagsip said that they have been strengthening their police visibility and patrols in their area of responsibility, especially near Mango and Baseline area where there are a lot of establishments selling liquors.

Of the five who were arrested, four are from Mambaling and one from Lahug.

Tagsip said all those arrested were found to be under the influence of alcohol.

“Karong Monday i-file ang case sa ilaha through inquest… Nakainom, hubog, actually naa tay na-recover nga mga basag nga botelya na picturan pud nato that will form part of our evidence,” the police chief said.

Following the incident, Tagsip warned party goers:

“Usahay lang kaning mga kabatan-onan karon kung makainom ibutang sa ulo, dili sa tiyan. We would like to inform this is pro-active approach or new approach, gipahigpit na nato ang atong enforcement kay bahala og dili sila makinihaay og physical injuries sa usag-usa, this time the state will be the complainant.”

Cebu City Police Office chief Col. Ireneo Dalogsog said filing appropriate charges against the suspects is one way of deterring similar incidents in the future.

“Sukad sa pag assume nako niadtong October 1, 2022 murag ikaupat naman siguro ni… Ang atong panawagan sa katawhan sa siyudad sa Cebu og naa sila’y mga anak katong batan-on pa nga hilig og night life, ilang i-remind nga dili mag-apil-apil anang kagubot, ilabi na mag-inom, mag-inom lang gyud dili ibutang sa ulo, ibutang sa tiyan, ma-involve sa rumble mao gyud sigurado ma-filan gyud kag kaso,” Dalogdog said.

Talisay

In Talisay City, the city government has started a program meant to prevent young people from getting involved in crimes.

The City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) office led by Felipa Solana has created a diversion program for minors who are members of different groups.

Even the youngsters who were involved in a separate rumble in Talisay last week are also included in the program.

Solana said under the program, the minors are taught to understand their nature as young persons, as well as the role of their parents in raising them as responsible individuals.

The program is in coordination with the police and the GAD focal person in every barangay.  – Gabriel C. Bonjoc, JMD (FREEMAN)