Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay on Monday urged parents, teachers and community leaders to continue taking active roles against crime by closely coordinating with the city government and the police to protect residents, particularly the youth, from bad elements of society.
Binay made the appeal after the arrest of three of the five individuals, including three minors, believed responsible for killing an 18-year-old student of San Antonio High School during gang-related violence last Friday.
Arrested were Ryugene Adan of Barangay Poblacion and Jigo Guerzon of Barangay San Dionisio, Parañaque City, both 19 years old; and their minor companion, who is a resident of Barangay San Antonio.
Two other suspects, who are also minors, earlier surrendered to the police.
“We all need to fulfill our respective roles in keeping the youth safe and protected from any form of danger, whether they are at home, in school, or anywhere in the city. Let us not allow all our efforts to provide quality education for our children go to waste, and prevent such a senseless death from happening again in our city,” said Binay.
She also urged residents to promptly report through My Makati Facebook or the Makati Police any suspicious activities of fraternities or gangs in their communities.
“Let us all be vigilant against potential threats to residents, especially the youth, and immediately notify the authorities to prevent them from causing harm on anyone,” said Binay.
The five were tagged responsible for the death of John Ernest Rivera, a resident of Barangay La Paz, who sustained several stab wounds during an alleged gang-related confrontation in front of the school.
“I strongly condemn this horrific act of violence which has abruptly ended the life of a young man, along with his dreams of a bright future. It is very alarming that some of the alleged suspects are minors,” said Binay.
The mayor expressed her condolences to the family of the victim, and extended financial assistance for the funeral arrangements. She also vowed to closely monitor the progress of the case until all the culprits have been brought to justice.
Last Friday, Binay ordered Makati Police chief Gerardo Umayao to immediately launch an intensive search for the suspects upon learning of the incident.
Poice said the rumble happened around 4:20 p.m. in front of San Antonio High School. Rivera had gone to the school with some friends when he got engaged in a brawl with members of the Youth Scorpion Fraternity outside the school.
A frat member allegedly approached Rivera and punched him. In the ensuing brawl, other members allegedly took out fan knives (balisong) and stabbed the victim repeatedly.
Rivera was declared dead on arrival at the Sta. Ana Hospital in Manila at about 5:20 p.m.
Two months ago, the city government banned the selling and possession of plastic knives and knuckles, and fan (butterfly) knives in the city following reports that minors used these gadgets in petty quarrels.
Members of the City Council passed Ordinance No. һ2017-113 amending the previous one enacted in August 1997, which prohibits the distribution, sale or display of gun replicas and toy guns with plastic pellets as bullets.
Airsoft guns, airguns and other similar items being used in lawful activities are not covered by the ban.