The “registration scheme” of gangs in the city of Baguio have sort of publicized and legalized their activities instead of resolving it. Just to cite some instances:

(1) Last Nov. 14, a shooting spree in broad daylight happened right behind the Justice Hall, adjacent to Legarda Road. Involved were some minors who were identified to be members of a notorious gang. Police from the Abanao Station (located just a few steps from the scene) arrived but no one was apprehended since they came late.

(2) The following day, Nov. 15, during the dawn of a weekend, a 15-year-old high school student was stabbed and left to die by a group of hooded thugs, who were said to be the same people involved in the previous day’s shooting spree. This happened again in Legarda Road, what used to be a decent route for both locals and tourists.

On the left side, across the street where the unlawful death took place, is a police outpost. Also, just a block away on the right side is Urbano Street, where the attention-getting motorcycle units of police patrols are parked along the street curbs, for some reason that only the residents’ sealed lips could tell.

What has influenced our city council members to recommend the registration of gangs in the city? And what group, at least in their right mind, would cooperate and have their goons be documented? Hoodlums shouldn’t be recognized and tolerated; they should be jailed and forbidden. Is the city council up to turn Baguio City into a “crime haven” as it is happening now?

Is the “BCPO visibility” for real? Looks like thugs are more visible than the cops, nowadays. Some BCPOs may be visible, but at questionable places and time. For what reason and in what businesses are they really engaged in?

If this is another case of “bad tomatoes,” well then, Apo mayor and BCPO chief, we beg you to please do something before all the tomatoes rot and we all fall prey.