Gangs’ crackdown ordered

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza ordered yesterday police and barangay officials to be on the lookout for street gangs to prevent them from sowing terror in the neighborhood.

"We will not tolerate these street gangs who have no socially productive purpose and we will not allow them to brazenly terrorize residents of peaceful neighborhoods," Atienza said.

Atienza issued the directive to Western Police District director Chief Superintendent Nicolas Pasinos and WPD-Police Station 4 (Sampaloc) head Superintendent Amador Pabustan following a riot in Sampaloc before dawn yesterday, where Joydan Villegas was killed.

Villegas, 23, of Norma street, Sampaloc, was shot dead by a group of young men, said to be members of the Temple Street Gang. The incident took place in front of a mini-store near the victim’s house. Prior to the shooting incident, witnesses overheard the suspects were looking for members of a rival gang, True Brown Style, challenging them to a fight. However, when they failed to find their rivals, the suspects vented their ire on the victim by shooting him.

According to investigator SPO1 Raul Olavario, "riots happen almost nightly in the area because they are fighting for supremacy in their neighborhood."

Atienza also directed the police to identify, arrest and file appropriate charges against the killers of Villegas.

"Let us not allow peaceful residents to be terrorized by hooligans. I want more police patrols in the area so we can prevent the further occurrence of violent clashes among fraternity gangs," the mayor said.