THE Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) learned that the riot that erupted in a bar in Barangay Kasambagan last week was a modus operandi of a group of minors to create attention from their fellow customers.
Kasambagan barangay officials headed by village chair Franklyn Ong and owners of bar establishments in the area were summoned by the CCPO on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, following social media posts involving a riot in one of the bars there last week.
According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Wilbert Parilla, deputy city director for operations of the CCPO, it was found out in the meeting that the riot involving the minors only happened once and that it was only posted on social media on different occasions, making the public believe that the bar incident has repeated.
Parilla said the minors would create trouble inside the bar to distract customers and then get their cellphones.
“Dili gyud ni siya kanang kagubot. It was modus of the minors nga magkagubot sila and then kung dunay moapil nga mga tawo, kanang ilaha sad panguhaon ang cellphone,” Parilla said.
(This was not really a riot, it was the modus of the minors to create trouble and then when someone join in, they will take their cellphones (left on the table).)
It was agreed during the meeting that the bars should have security guards to rebuke minors who would come to the establishments.
Most of the minors just hang outside the bar and will just come in and make a scene when people start to crowd.
Parilla said the mobile patrol of Mabolo Police Station have been making their rounds, while the barangay tanods have been conducting foot patrols to secure the area, but their movements are being monitored by their targets.
Despite this, the police official said they will continue strengthening their vigilance in the drinking establishments not only in Panagdait in Barangay Kasambagan but also in the downtown area.
Recently, a robbery incident was perpetrated by minors around 7 p.m. in the downtown area, particularly in Barangay Kamagayan. (AYB, TPT)