NATHANIEL Ibalang, 14, ran frantically for his life for 1.8 kilometers from Gaston Park to Northern Mindanao Medical Center trying to escape from his pursuers, rival gang members last Sunday.
CCTV video images culled in the social network showed Ibalang and his friends desperately shouting for help as their pursuers pursued them.
Despite passing through at least six barangays, nobody lifted a finger to help. There were no tanods and no policemen on their brand new Toyota Fortuners on the deserted streets on Sunday afternoon.
After running for 1.8 kilometers, Ibalang finally arrived at a shopping mall beside the Northern Mindanao Medical Center where a group of motorelas was parked waiting for passengers.
A netizen was able to record the final scene with his mobile camera where Ibalang’s pursuers ganged up on him beside a motorela and delivered two fatal knife blows to his body.
A bleeding Ibalang fell to the ground and died on the spot.
His killers, members of the ‘Soy Shit Dem’ gang escaped running towards C.M. Recto Street.
Police officers led by Cagayan de Oro City Police Office chief Col. Aaron Mandia arrested gang member Raul Lumamba Jr, at his residence in Barangay Gusa yesterday.
He said a ten-inch knife believed to be a murder weapon was found in possession of the suspect.
Mandia said Lumamba’s gang had an altercation with Ibalang who was a member of a rival “Kaibigan lang Kami” gang.
“Silang Ibalang nag una og labay sa amo og botelya,” Lumamba told reporters.
Mayor Rolando Uy met with the grandparents of Ibalang at the City Hall yesterday afternoon even as he called on parents to check on their children’s activities.
Uy also asked the police to profile all gang members and their leaders in the city.
“Ako makig dialogue sa mga ginikanan og gang leaders aron maundang ning mga away,” Uy said
In an interview with reporters, 79-year-old Domminga Ibalang said their family is so poor that they could not even afford to buy a casket for her grandson.
Uy said the city government would shoulder the burial expenses of the victim.