Top Tier Dangerous

Gangs In the
Philippines

Submitted by:
Erin Kyle C. Bartolome
BS Criminology 3-O

Submitted to:
Sir Hazel Troy Quibol
OCI Instructor
1. Bahala Na Gang

The Bahala Na Gang (BNG) is a street gang founded in the Philippines which
subsequently spread to the United States. The Bahala Na Gang was established in the
early 1940s in Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines, by Divino Talastas, a native of Bulacan who
was born in the early 1920s and who later moved with his siblings to Sampaloc.

Before the formation of the Bahala Na Gang, Divino had a brother known as “Emong”
who was most feared in the area at the early age of 13–14, known for his fighting skill,
and was notorious for targeting and killing police officers. This was rooted in his early
trouble with the police when he was arrested and tortured, including using electricity on
his genitals), allegedly to secure his conviction.

The earliest members were hardcore street fighters who were loyal to Emong; their main
goal was merely to protect them from terror from other gangs. The gang spread and
eventually many gang members were doing all kinds of criminal activities.
2. Kuratong Baleleng
Kuratong Baleleng was an organized crime syndicate in the Philippines that once was an
anti-communist, vigilante group. Once the largest syndicate in the country, they received
national attention due to their alleged end in a shootout with the Philippine National
Police in May 1995 in Quezon City. The syndicate has scattered its power through
members garnering political positions since then.

The group was originally established by the Botanical Youth Club in 1986 to guard
against the spread of communist guerrillas in Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte
and Zamboanga del Sur provinces. The first leader, chosen directly by the military, was
Octavio “Ongkoy” Parojinog, who allegedly used the group both for its official purpose as
well as to conduct illegal activities.

They were effective in driving most of the insurgents in these three provinces. But
during peacetime when the military ordered them to disband, the group instead started
conducting illegal activities. The syndicate has since been involved in activities such as
kidnapping, robberies, drug trafficking, and other crimes. The group is running its
activities in small groups currently.
3. Satanas gang

The Satanas Gang is a Filipino American street gang in Southern California, founded in
1972. It is believed to be the oldest Filipino-American street gang in Los Angeles.
Satanas began as a clique from Temple Street that broke off in the 1970s. This was not
an acrimonious split, and they retain warm relations to this day.

In 1972, a car club group was started in the Los Angeles area by some Filipino Americans
who had formed a cultural bond where they were a minority. At first, the club was
exclusively for Filipinos. They soon branched out to other Southern California cities
including San Diego, La Puente, Cerritos, Oxnard Long Beach, Eagle Rock, Norwalk, San
Fernando, West Covina, Chino, Chino Hills, Santa Ana, San Gabriel, El Monte, Delano,
Palmdale, Antelope Valley, Vallejo, and San Jose and have reached other states out in
the east coast like New Jersey and New York.
4. Sigue Sigue Sputnik gang

Sigue Sigue Sputnik is a Filipino street gang. They are one of the largest and most well-
known gangs whose influence and territory stretched throughout the slums of Tondo,
Manila. They are also one of the gangs present in major penitentiaries in Manila including
Manila City Jail and New Bilibid Prison. The gang was born in the 1960s as part of two
branching groups of “Sigue Sigue” hoodlums in Tondo, the other one being Sigue Sigue
Commandos, who are Sputnik’s most ardent rival.

During the decade, they made turfs of many slums and jails in Manila. Researcher
Franklin G. Ashburn described them as “perhaps the most structured and best-organized
conflict gang in the Manila City Jail at the time”. The motto of the gang was “He who
comes to destroy us, will himself be destroyed” which is a direct reference to the
Visayan gangs like the Oxo group who the Sputniks felt had “invaded” the Tagalog
territory of Manila.

Their name was derived from the Russian orbital satellite of the same name because of
its “spying’ or “all-knowing” capabilities. The Sputniks pride themselves on their
knowledge of what was going on both inside and outside of the jail at all times – among
friends, enemies, and the police.
5. Waray-Waray gangs
Waray-Waray gangs are also known as Waray-Waray groups. These are generic terms
used in the Philippines to denote criminal groups who are of Waray ethnicity. They
originated from provinces Leyte and Samar where the majority are of Waray
background, later spreading into Luzon.

Most of their criminal activities involved armed robberies, but various other gangs have
also dabbled in kidnapping, carnapping, gun running, assassinations, gang warfare, and
narcotics sale. Their bloody confrontations with the police made them the most
notorious gang in the Philippines.

Although Waray-speaking criminals have been documented in Luzon since the 1990s, it
wasn’t until 1997 that they first started being called Waray-Waray gangs. In that year, a
Waray-Waray gang kidnapped Chinese-Filipino Virgilio and Christine Chua and their
maid Analyn Simbajon. The Movement dubbed the case for Restoration of Peace and
Order (MRPO) the longest trial in the history of kidnap-for-ransom cases in the country.
6. The Budol-Budol Gang

The Budol-Budol Gang is a nefarious organization that operates under the guise of an
innocuous group, but in reality, employs a range of deceitful tactics to defraud
unsuspecting victims. Members of this group utilize sophisticated methods of persuasion
and manipulation to lure in their targets, often preying on the elderly or vulnerable
populations.

Their modus operandi typically involves gaining the trust of their intended victim
through an array of psychological tactics such as flattery, feigning authority, or utilizing
social engineering techniques to exploit their targets’ weaknesses. Once the victim’s
trust has been established, the Budol-Budol Gang will proceed to orchestrate an
elaborate ruse designed to deceive their target into handing over money or valuables.

In some cases, this may involve convincing the victim that they are part of a fake lottery
or a business deal that requires an upfront payment, while in others the fraudsters may
pose as religious leaders or individuals offering miraculous cures for various ailments.
The Budol-Budol Gang’s methods are highly refined and their tactics are constantly
evolving, making them a significant threat to unsuspecting individuals who may fall prey
to their sophisticated scams.

7. Akyat-Bahay Gang
The Akyat-Bahay Gang is a notorious criminal group that specializes in the act of “casa
hacienda,” which involves breaking into homes and other private properties for the
purpose of theft. This group is known for their exceptional skills in climbing and scaling
tall buildings and walls, as well as its proficiency in lock picking and other forms of
intrusion.

Their modus operandi involves conducting extensive surveillance on their target

Despite their sophisticated methods and skills, the Akyat-Bahay Gang is widely
recognized as a threat to public safety and security. Their activities not only cause
financial loss to their victims but also result in psychological trauma and a sense of
violation. As such, law enforcement agencies are constantly working to dismantle this
criminal group and bring their members to justice.
8. Zesto Gang

The Zesto Gang is a notorious criminal organization that is involved in various illicit
activities, including drug trafficking, extortion, and organized violence. This group is
known for their ruthless tactics, which often involve the use of firearms and other deadly
weapons.

The Zesto Gang’s criminal network spans across different regions and is highly organized,
with clear hierarchies and roles. They operate through a system of fear and intimidation,
often targeting vulnerable communities and businesses for extortion and protection
money.
9. Salisi Gang

The Salisi Gang is a criminal group that is notorious for their modus operandi of “salisi,” a
form of theft that involves distracting their victim while stealing their belongings. The
gang’s members are skilled in deception and manipulation, using their wit and charm to
lull their victims into a false sense of security.

Their operations often involve multiple members working in tandem, with some creating
distractions while others steal the victim’s valuables. The Salisi Gang’s activities are not
limited to theft, as they have also been known to engage in other criminal activities, such
as extortion and kidnapping.
Their criminal activities pose a significant threat to public safety and security, as they
often target unsuspecting victims in public places, such as marketplaces and shopping
malls. The psychological impact on victims of such theft is often severe, with feelings of
shock, violation, and mistrus.