GANG war among minors that resulted in fatal broad daylight stabbing along a busy city street on Sunday sent shockwaves across Cagayan de Oro as netizens complained of laxity and lack of visibility on part of the law enforcers.
“Asa diay ang mga pulis, ang mga bag-ong Fortuner nga gi-provide sa ila,” rued veteran journalist Cris Diaz.
“Didto ko gikan sa Butuan kagahapon, grabe ilang police visibility didto kada kanto dunay police. Ang mga area nga crowded daghan mga police gi poste,” Capitol worker Inting Sereña Tan-gan told Gold Star Daily.
In another brawl that was captured on video, a group of youngsters was seen ganging up a 14-year-old beside a Motorola along Corrales street between the Ayala Centrio Mall and the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) Provincial Hospital.
As they kept on beating the victim with blunt objects, one of them who is said to be an 18-year-old took a 12-inch hunting knife and repeatedly stabbed their helpless prey.
When his attackers ran away towards the CM Recto-Corrales Junction direction, the victim tried to seek help from a motorela driver but was ignored.
He later stumbled on the ground and was still catching on his breath as onlookers were hesitant to bring him right away to the hospital from just across the crime scene.
“Dool raman jud kaayo ang hospital grabe wa gyod nakasakwat padulong sa emergency room,” lamented one Pinky Domingo.
A certain John Dave from Iligan City, who captured the incident on his mobile phone, said he too was afraid to help the victim physically amid the noise from the people around.
“Dayo lang mi sa akong uyab from Iligan. But at least, thankful ang mga pulis sa akong video pag identify sa mga suspetsado,” read part of John Dave’s Facebook post.
Residents also expressed disappointment that such a midday brawl in the city’s busy district had surprisingly gone unnoticed by the police.
In fleeing the scene, the primary suspect was in public view still clutching the bladed weapon in an almost casual manner.
The incident happened barely two weeks after a riot in the city’s Taguanao bridge that resulted in a fatal road rage by a young member of a prominent clan in the city.
No arrest has been made yet as of press time.