Thursday, April 10, 2008 Editorials: Barangay officials’ turn
THAT a police official would call on barangay officials to help curb criminal acts perpetrated by members of gangs may show how far the situation has deteriorated.
But Senior Insp. Ambrosio Ibones, head of the Security and Service Group of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), should know what he is talking about considering his position.
He made the call after his son Joseph was shot in Pardo Sunday night by a member of the notorious Crips gang who were also throwing eggs at vehicles passing the area.
Barangay level
That was not the first time Crips gang members did something criminal, which means that barangay officials know the danger of gang members' presence in their jurisdiction.
And while the task of going after criminal-minded elements fall on the police, that does not mean these barangay officials should just sit pretty in their cozy barangay halls.
Barangay officials know who the gang members are in the sitios and their daily activities, thus they are in better position to put a stop to these gangs criminal acts.
This has a downside, of course, because blood relations and friendships are stronger at the barangay level, thus officials are either lenient or protective of these thugs.
But that should be no excuse to prod these officials to act or face the consequences.
Aggressive drive
Unfortunately, we still have to hear of an aggressive campaign at the barangay level to solve the problem of gang violence and of gang members turning to a life of crime.
Even the Association of Barangay Councils in the city, known to quickly support Mayor Tomas Osmeña's political acts, still has to do something substantial on the matter.
Ibones' suggestion about the imposition of curfew at the barangay level to discourage gang members from roaming the streets at night may encounter legal snags.
But the point of that suggestion should not be missed, which is for barangay officials to be more aggressive and creative in helping curb criminality in their level.
With what is happening now, they should do nothing less.
