City police to seek 2 agencies’ help on minors engaged in crimes
The Iloilo City Police Office will seek the support of the Department of Education and the City Social Welfare and Development Office in responding to cases of minors who are engaged in crimes, including those into illegal drugs.
The plan was in line with the discovery of a gang identified as TBS 13 (True Blood Style 13) led by Alvin Dizon who was tested positive for illegal drugs and identified as one of the suspects in the killing of a taxi driver here recently.
Senior Supt. Dennis Basngi, city police director, said some minors are already members of the gang, which is a mix of in-school and out-of-school youths.
The TBS 13 is a “conglomeration of talented youths,” he said.
With Dizon tested positive for drugs, Basngi said some of the gang members could also be drug users.
Also, there is a semblance of competition among the TBS-13 chapters based in other cities, he added. Initially, it seemed that the competition is gauged by the number of taxi drivers that they held up and killed.
Basngi said they found out that minors were present in four taxi robbery cases in Iloilo city and province.
He said they need the support of the two agencies in addressing the problem although he mentioned that they are closely working with the CSWDO.
The concern is not yet alarming though, he said.
Meanwhile, Philipine National Police Chief Raul Bacalzo during his recent visit here said that they would support a move to amend the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act which prevents minors, 15 years old and below but involved in crimes from being imprisoned.
He said that the concern on minors being used as drug couriers and engaged in other criminalities is also happening in other areas and not only in Iloilo City.
Without the amendment he stated that the law shall be followed.
“The law maybe harsh, maybe inappropriate but it is still the law we have to follow it,” he said.*PNA
