‘Don’t name crime gangs after towns, regions’

MANILA, Philippines - Two Mindanao congressmen do not want criminal groups being named after their hometowns, provinces, regions, religious affiliations or ethnic groups.

The proposed prohibition is contained in a bill filed by Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and his brother Maximo, who represents party-list group Abante Mindanao.

The two said it has been the practice of the Philippine National Police to “designate gangs or criminal groups after their hometown, region or religious or ethnic community,” citing the Waray-Waray and Ozamiz City robbery gangs.        

“This is very discriminatory and casts a bad reputation on the place or region as well as the whole population there who are not members of the gangs. The place becomes notorious to the detriment and prejudice of its residents who are innocent,” they said.

The Rodriguezes’ bill declares that it is the policy of the state “to protect the residents of the community from the notoriety being cast to their place as a result of designating gangs by their hometown or region by prohibiting the same.”

Offenders face a prison term of two to four years.