MEMBERSHIP in a gang known for rewarding violent behavior may have influenced the 15-year-old boy who fatally stabbed his teacher Tuesday, September 13, a community leader in Cagayan de Oro City said Friday.
Canitoan barangay chairman Joshua Taboclaon said village officials are keeping a wary eye on the activities of two separate gangs, the "Bloods" and "Crips", active in the barangay where the 15-year-old boy is from.
The 9th grader, a "Bloods" gang member, fatally stabbed 43-year-old teacher Vilma Cabactulan during class hours at the Pedro 'Oloy' N. Roa High School.
The minor used a 7-inch knife in stabbing Cabactulan three times at the back.
Taboclaon said they are identifying other gang members in the barangay who remain active in the gangs.
"Sauna identify nato ni sila nga mga grupo kay kanang duha gapasikatay hangtod nag-unay," Taboclaon said.
He said violent activities and even the recruitment of new gang members had subsided following the imposition of curfew on minors.
"Hinay-hinay rapud ni na-dissolved naminusan ilang pag-recruit kay pag mabantayan ni sila dakpon man ug dad-on sa police," Taboclaon said.
"Existing gihapon ni nga mga gang pero dili na kaayo. Ga-identify mi karon pinaagi sa mga bugoy pero moingon man lagi nga dili na daw sila membro," Tabocloan added.
Tabaclaon said gang members have also been suspected of involvement in various crimes such as robbery and "akyat bahay".
A former Crips member who requested anonymity agreed with Tabaclaon’s observations saying gangs routinely engage in street fights and violence in high schools.
"Gubot-gubot og away ra gayud among involvement kasagaran sa mga high school ra pud ni siya uso but naa pud mga members nga out of school youth. Kanang mga gubot-gubot sa high school mga gang na kasagaran," he said.
The former gang member also related how new members are welcomed.
He said individuals seeking to become gang members are blindfolded and then tortured and "initiated" in a rite called "massacre."
Members of these gangs can be identified through burn marks on their hands and gang leaders are called "OG" or original gangster by other members.
"Ang 'Bloods' kay left hand kay ang 'Crips' right hand man ang amo," he said.
He said he joined a gang to "belong" but said he later realized that being a gang member led him to engage in violent behavior.
"Sauna gahulat-hulat mi anang gawas sa mga eskwelahan kay naa mi birahan. Kung birahan among kauban moresbak pud mi,"
He said he even experienced being chased by police after a street battle with rival gang members.
"Mahadlok gihapon mi sauna pero murag dili na namo na kaguhana-hunaan. I quit kay murag dili maayo ang resulta. Mahadlok pud ko mapriso o makasuhan," he said.
Meanwhile, the City Council committee on education convened on Thursday, September 15, to map out plans to protect students and teachers in schools.
Committee chair councilor Suzette Daba said fear continue to grip the school community prompting them to strengthen security measures in the schools.
"Nahadlok naman ang ubang mga teachers apil ang mga parents kay nakadungog sila sa usa ka radio station nga naa pay sunod nga teacher nga biktimahon mao medyo nagkagubot ang school and tensyonado,"committee chair councilor Suzette Daba said.
Daba said some teachers have not been holding classes and several parents have not been sending their children to school due to lingering fears brought about by the fatal stabbing.
Members of the committee also conducted an on-site inspection and met with the parents and the school community Friday afternoon.
Daba said the inspection aims to check the environment after the incident including the physical structure and the light posts within the school premises.
Daba said the committee learned that the fence of the school is quite low and a deadly weapon can be easily passed on from the outside.
"We will check how authorities conducted security measures. We know nga ubos daw ang kural so katong mga deadly weapon pwede ra maitsa. We are trying to communicate with the parents nga mag-sign waiver allowing the school to check the bags of the students," Daba said.
Chief Inspector Alvies Altiche, Police station 7 chief, said apart from the security they provided in the campus, they will act further based on the result of the Parents-teachers association (PTA) meeting on Friday.
"Kung anong mapag-usapan sa meeting ng PTA, yun ang gagawin natin," Altiche said.