CATBALOGAN, Samar –
Some 25 juvenile gangsters (and counting) have voluntarily
surrendered to PNP authorities here Tuesday.
The 23 boys and two
girls aged ranging from 15 to 24 said to be members of the dreaded 13
Hudas and WAPS (Walang Awatan Para sa Lahat) trooped to the Samar
Provincial Police Office, Camp Maulong to meet PNP Provincial director
Senior Superintendent Asdali Idja Abah.
Accompanied by Augusto
‘Agoy’ Daclitan, an elderly and coordinator of the so called Alliance
for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) said that the youngsters
expressed their desire to stop their "happenings" and return to school
and/or be productive members of the Catbalogan society.
Agoy told PIA that he
used diplomacy in convincing the youngsters to turn a new leaf in
their lives. He said that he has witnessed how the young would scamper
when confronted with equally confrontational youth who seem to be war
freaks.
He said he also knew
of the youths ‘naughty’ activities because plenty of complaints have
been lodged with these youngsters who loiter the streets and alleys at
night. These boys have also been subjected to police chases every now
and then.
One member of WAPS
Banjo Lama, 19 shared his desire to live a new life free of fear for
his dear life. He said he would want to live somewhere else so that he
would not meet his foes from the other gangs.
Their former master,
Edmon Montejo urged his members to lay down their ‘arms’ composed of
deadly arrow, sumpak and pisaw and to become members of ANAD instead.
ANAD member Pepito del
Rosario said that they will train the boys instead to become assets of
the tanod or even the PNP instead of wasting their young life to
happy-go-lucky endeavors that more often than not turn into deadly
riots.
Catbalogan Mayor Tekwa
Uy, PNP Samar police director Abah and Catbalogan Chief Carlos Vencio
together with Gov. Tan’s representative Baby Toledo discussed ways to
help best the repentant youngsters.
