BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines — Who are to take responsibility with the security of people unwinding in New Government Center?
The supposedly public place where numbers of Bacoleños visit everyday to relax and have picnic with family have recently been in the news after a gang war turned ugly with the killing of a minor last night 29 May 2022.
The incident led to the stabbing of a 15 year old. He was believed to be a peanut vendor in the area.
The suspect was identified as Joerebel Datulayta, 21, of Alijis village.
He was arrested allegedly the peanut vendor after a POSO guard who witnessed the incident reported him to the police.
Dulayta in an interview with DNX denied the allegations of him killing the minor and said he was just walking with his cousin to relax in the area.
Police Station 4 deputy commander Lieutenant Ricky Cayao said old grudges could have been the motive of the killing.
He said that the incident was not caught on CCTV camera of the building as this happened on the farthest side of the NGC grounds.
He said that no policemen were deployed in the outpost behind the NGC last night though a police patrol car was usually roving from time to time.
The group of minors however would still had a chance to start up a fight with their rival groups according to him.
The suspect meanwhile confirmed the chat message seen by the authorities on his cellphone where he said “ May isa nako nga na buno” was true but this however according to him was not meant to be taken seriously, and was just for fun.
The message has nothing to do with what happened to the 15-year-old, he said.
The case is still currently under investigation as the victim’s family sought for justice and are preparing to file a murder case against the suspect.
