Nearly 40 individuals engaged in a brawl after a celebration of the Misa De Gallo in Caloocan City last week.
Screenshot of the CCTV footage of the brawl on Buenavista Avenue Barangay 79, Caloocan City on Dec. 19, 2024.
Churchgoers of St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish were seen walking along Bautista Avenue in Brgy. 79, Caloocan City last Thursday, Dec. 19, when a Molotov cocktail was suddenly thrown into the ground causing the crowd to panic and run.
A passerby was able to avoid the incendiary device which hit a wall.
Shortly after, other minors joined in on the riot, and objects were seen being thrown between the teen gangs.
According to village chief Ezra Cruz, this is not the first time it has happened in the barangay.
“So, ’pag nagsimba sila rito… dun nagkakaron ng angasan, ngayon once na uwian na, dito sila magkikita, dito magbabatuhan (So, they went to church here... they tease each other and on their way home, they would meet here, and throw objects here),” he said.
One of the minors involved in the rumble said the other group wants to beat up one of their peers after mass.
“Nagsisimba po kami ng maayos nun, naaangasan sa amin, bale ang nangyari nun gusting banatan yung tropa namin (We were just attending mass and they doid’t seem to like us. What happened was they wanted to beat up one of our peers),” he said.
“Gumaganti lang po kami, sila po yung nangunguna (We only defended ourselves, they started it)” he added.
According to the barangay, police officers, and tanods who were patrolling the area that night, the rioters waited for them to pass by before causing trouble.
After the incident, the barangay doubled its presence.
The Northern Police District (NPD) also deployed personnel near churches in the area.
“Mayroon po tayong nakatalaga na pulis na sa anumang oras na mayroong riot at mayroong mga kaguluhan, agad po silang makakaresponde (We have police officers deployed in case of a riot or disturbance [so they can] respond immediately," NPD's Chief Public Information Officer Lt. Gladys Co said.
Last week, another riot involving minors was reported in the city after churchgoers from San Roque Cathedral gathered in Barangay 13 after a disagreement with the group. Almost 10 individuals were identified to be involved.