CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY —- The local government of Cagayan de Oro asked the local police here to look for solutions to resolve the crimes involving ‘gangs’ where minors are mostly involved.
The city government expressed alarm after a stabbing incident on Oct. 23 (Sunday) in Corrales Street, Barangay 24 here that took the life of a 13-year-old boy, who was a gang member.
City Mayor Rolando Uy, in a statement released on Monday, Oct. 24, has already ordered Col. Aaron Mandia, the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) chief, to identify all the gangs in the city and its leaders.
“I am asking the gangs, parents of the members, especially the minor gang members to stop your activities or you will regret your actions later,” Uy said in vernacular, adding that he is willing to conduct a dialogue with the parents of the gang members.
The Cogon Police Station 2, together with the Technical Support Unit Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RFMB) 10, has already arrested the person who allegedly stabbed the victim to death.
COCPO identified the suspect as Raul Lumamba, 18, of Barangay Gusa, who was arrested Monday, Oct. 24. The 10 inches stainless hunting knife including the handle, which was allegedly used in the stabbing, was also confiscated.
Apart from the person who stabbed the victim, Maj. Julius Saluta, the Cogon police chief, said in a phone interview that two other suspects who are minors were arrested.
The said two minors are also gang members who were present during the incident.
Saluta further disclosed the dead victim was a member of ‘Kaibigan Lang Po (KLP)’ gang that has an existing conflict against the ‘Soy Shit Dem’ gang where Lumamba is an alleged member.
City councilor and SK Federation president John Michael Seno, during the flag-raising program in city hall on Monday, called on the COCPO to work with the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) in stopping gang violence in the city.
“We, the Sangguniang Kabataan, will help and this venue will also discuss on how to reduce the cases of gang wars in Cagayan de Oro through helping our police,” Seno said in vernacular.
In response, Lt. Col. Evan Viñas, the COCPO spokesperson, thanked the participation of city officials to resolve the criminality.
Viñas has reiterated that the COCPO, together with its multipliers, has continuously visited different schools to conduct symposiums and dialogue with high school students.
“It’s just so sad that there are youngsters who cannot be convinced as there is something running in their head and their heart,” he said in vernacular.
“Rest assured, that the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office will continuously create interventions to avoid the same incidents,” he added.