By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has beefed up security at the Bacolod City Government Center (BGC) grounds following last Sunday’s gang war which claimed the life of a 15-year-old boy.

BCPO director, Police Colonel Thomas Martir, said he has ordered additional personnel from the BCPO’s Mobile Force Company and Mobile Patrol Unit to be reassigned at the BGC grounds.

Police Station 4 has also been ordered to assign some of its personnel at the BGC.

Martir said six cops will be assigned at the BGC grounds, while four will be assigned for mobile patrol.

The BCPO head has also ordered all the police stations and units in the city to fully implement the city’s curfew ordinance for minors.

Under City Ordinance No. 561 which amended the city’s existing curfew ordinance, minors are not allowed outdoors from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., unless they are accompanied by their parents or a legitimate guardian.

First time offenders shall consist of a reprimand for both the offending minor and the offender’s parents or guardian, after which a Diversion Program will be recommended for the latter.

Second time offenders will be penalized with a reprimand and a 20-hour community service for the parents or guardian.

Third and subsequent offenses, meanwhile, can be penalized with a one to 10-day imprisonment for the parents or guardian, or a fine of P2,000 or both.

Earlier on Sunday, May 29, 15-year-old Yeshua John Torres was stabbed dead during a brawl between rival gangs at the BGC grounds.

Twenty one-year-old Jorebel Datulayta was later arrested in a follow-up operation after witnesses identified him as the one who stabbed Torres using an ice pick.

Datulayta denied the allegations, but police recovered a group chat message the suspect sent via Facebook Messenger asking his fellow gang members as to where they are as they have already stabbed one person.

The suspect is currently facing a murder charge over the incident./DGB, WDJ