BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) beefed up security at the Bacolod City Government Center (BGC) grounds following Sunday’s gang war which left a 15-year-old teenager dead.
BCPO director Police Colonel Thomas Martir reassigned some personnel from the Mobile Force Company and Mobile Patrol Unit at the BGC grounds.
Police Station 4 was also ordered to post some of its personnel to the BGC.
Martir said six cops will be assigned at the BGC grounds while four for mobile patrol.
The BCPO head also ordered all police stations and units to strictly enforce the curfew ordinance for minors.
Under City Ordinance No. 561 which amended the city’s existing curfew ordinance, minors are not allowed outdoors from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. unless they are accompanied by their parents or a legitimate guardian.
First-time violators will get a reprimand (both the minor and parents or guardian). A “diversion program” will also be recommended.
Second-time offenders will get a reprimand and a penalty of 20-hour community service for the parents or guardian.
Third and subsequent offenses may be penalized with a one to 10-day imprisonment for the parents or guardian, or a fine of P2,000 – or both.
On May 29, 15-year-old Yeshua John Torres was stabbed dead during a brawl between rival gangs at the BGC grounds.
Twenty-one-year-old Jorebel Datulayta suspect was arrested in a follow-up operation after witnesses identified him as the one who attacked Torres with an ice pick.
Datulayta denied the allegation but police recovered a group chat message the suspect sent via Facebook Messenger asking fellow gang members where they were as they have already stabbed one person.
The suspect faces a murder charge./PN
