A mother in Mandaue City was filled with anger and fear after viewing closed-circuit television footage that captured the moment her child, a student of Banilad High School, was violently assaulted by a group of teenagers.
Shocking CCTV Footage Reveals Brutal Attack
The incident, which occurred in Barangay Banilad, was shared publicly by lawyer Juril Broka Patiño on Facebook. The mother expressed her profound distress upon witnessing the video, which showed several teenagers beating her child. She described the attackers' motives as seemingly "for fun," but her terror escalated with the suspicion that one of the assailants might have been armed with a knife, raising fears that her child could have been stabbed.
The concerned parent further revealed that this same group has reportedly victimized other students, suggesting a possible affiliation with a local gang.
Barangay Response and Security Lapse
Barangay Banilad Captain Greg Yap stated that this was the first such violent occurrence in what is typically a peaceful area. The assault was only discovered after reviewing CCTV footage, which showed approximately six teenagers loitering before the attack. Captain Yap noted with concern that several passersby witnessed the beating but did not intervene.
He explained the lack of immediate security response, citing that no tanod (village watchman) was stationed at the spot because the incident unfolded rapidly. Additionally, police personnel had been redeployed from the area due to the Sinulog Festival. "The place was crowded with students coming out, and everything happened suddenly," Yap said.
Investigation and Preventive Measures
The barangay captain confirmed that the attack happened outside school premises and the suspects fled immediately. Since those involved are believed to be minors aged 12 to 15, the barangay's hands are tied without a formal complaint. "We cannot summon them without a complaint," Yap emphasized, adding that once filed, they can legally call in the suspects and their parents for dialogue.
Yap has coordinated with the school principal to help identify the teenagers and check their backgrounds. He expressed alarm over the potential resurgence of youth gangs, observing aggressive behavior in the footage. To prevent future incidents, Barangay Banilad will deploy tanods to monitor the area, especially during school dismissal hours, and disperse loitering groups. They have also requested police assistance to maintain peace and order.
Investigations are ongoing as officials await the filing of the formal complaint.
