Sigue Sigue Sputnik (gang)

Last updated

Sigue Sigue Sputnik
Founded1960s
Founding location Tondo, Manila, Philippines
Years active1960s–present
EthnicityFilipino
Criminal activities drug trafficking, arms trafficking, murder
Rivals Bahala Na Gang, Sigue Sigue Commandos, Batang City Jail

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. [1] They are one of the gangs present in major penitentiaries in Manila including Manila City Jail and New Bilibid Prison.

Contents

Origins

High poverty led to many in Tondo, Manila to band and form gangs. 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 the 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". [2] [3]

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 have "invaded" the Tagalog territory of Manila. [2] 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. In addition, the claim was made that Sputnik organization is not confined to the Manila area alone, but that it was well known throughout the entire Philippines. Many murders in both the slums and in the jail of rival gangs were attributed to the Sputniks. [2]

Culture

All full members of the Sputnik gang must undergo an initiation where they must wear a "tatak" (tattoo or brand), considered to be a badge of honor. [2] There was a pride among the Sputniks regarding the tatak that borders on "blood brother" ties. The tatak is usually tattooed on the buttocks of each member and the ones examined by the investigator were found to be works of art. Talent does not go unnoticed in confinement for the Sputniks had one member who was designated as the official artist and he enjoyed a high status position in the group. The Sigue Sigue Sputniks in confinement have an elaborate system of "kautusan" or "regulations" which have come down from the Muntinglupa Prison and to which the members must subscribe while in jail. [2] These "regulations" are known as the "Ten Commandments" of the Sputniks and are as follows:

  1. Thou shalt not "squeal".
  2. Thou shalt not kill fellow members.
  3. Thou shalt not organize another gang.
  4. Thou shalt not be selfish.
  5. Thou shalt not steal from fellow members.
  6. Thou shalt not own your own knife. If you own a knife, the leader must keep it.
  7. Thou shalt not tell fairy tales to fellow members.
  8. Obey your leader.
  9. Love and honor your mark.
  10. Be careful.

There is no set punishment for any given offense until the case has been tried before a council of elders and judges. [2] One exception to this rule is in cases involving "squealing" where the punishment is merciless. Although the role definitions of individual Sputnik members were diffuse, even for the leaders, there was one main role that all must play. Every member must at all times "be friendly" with every other member of the gang - a kind of forced practicing "pakikisama". Each must help his fellow member whenever asked to do so, regardless of the situation or the circumstances. [2]

Philippine drug war

The Sigue Sigue Sputnik gang became one of the most embroiled street gangs during the Philippine drug war. Various cases of violence were conducted by the gang during the war. On January 4, 2017, a Sputnik member by the name of Randy Lizardo shot and killed policeman PO1 Enrico Domingo in Tondo. Domingo, together with other PNP officers, were conducting a buy-bust operation inside Lizardo's home. As the lawmen burst, the gang surprised them out of the curtains with handguns. Domingo was hit in the head and died instantly, while another, PO2 Harley Gacera, was wounded in the shoulder. Lizardo and the gang managed to get away, but he would later be captured as he tried to flee the city nine days later. [1] [4]

On July 27, 2020, big time gang leader Rolando Loyola was captured during Operation Pagtugis led by Regional Intelligence Division, NCRPO; MPD Police Station 4 in Sampaloc, Manila. Loyola was a known leader of a robbery stick-up group. [5] The Sputnik gang was also one of the main combatants during the 2020 New Bilibid Prison riots, one of the largest prison riots in contemporary Philippines. Although the reasons varied for the cause of the riot (investigations either saying it was started when a Sputnik gang member was killed or beheaded, or one of their LGBT members was insulted). [6] Nonetheless, the gang retaliated against an alliance of Sigue Sigue Commando and Abu Sayyaf convicts, who they believed were the ones responsible. [7] During the two month long series of riots, gang members fought with improvised melee weapons, knives, arrows, and allegedly, firearms. The riot was quelled after a combined force of Special Action Force and SWAT members stormed the prison. [8] Thirteen convicts from both sides were killed. [6]

Related Research Articles

Max Alvarado was a Filipino film actor known mainly by his portrayals of villains in a career which spanned six decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special Action Force</span> Elite military unit of the Philippine National Police

The Special Action Force (SAF) is the elite unit of the Philippine National Police founded by Fidel V. Ramos, later the twelfth president of the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Bilibid Prison</span> Main insular penitentiary of the Philippines

The New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa, Metro Manila is the main insular prison designed to house the prison population of the Philippines. It is maintained by the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) under the Department of Justice (DOJ). As of October 2022, the NBP housed 29,204 inmates, nearly five times its intended capacity of 6,345.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manila Police District</span> PNPs police district in the City of Manila

The Manila Police District (MPD) is the agency of the Philippine National Police (PNP) responsible for law enforcement in the City of Manila including the Manila South Cemetery exclave. Formerly known as the Western Police District (WPD), the MPD is under the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), which also handles the Quezon City, Eastern, Northern and Southern Police Districts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emilio Changco</span>

Emilio Changco was a pirate gang leader based out of Manila Bay in the Philippines. He specialized in piracy-for-order, where a client hires the Changco Gang to seize the ship, remove the clients cargo, and then sell the ship. Changco was eventually captured and imprisoned by Philippine authorities. In 1992 he was killed by law-enforcement agents under circumstances which have been characterised as suspicious. Philippine government officials claim he was shot while trying to escape from the New Bilibid Prison, although the fact that he was disabled and used a cane raised suspicions about the official claim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asiong Salonga</span> Filipino gangster in Tondo, Manila

Nicasio "Asiong" Rodriguez Salonga, nicknamed the "Hari ng Tondo" or Kingpin of Tondo, was an infamous Filipino gangster whose notorious life had been portrayed in several movie versions in 1961, 1977, 1990 and 2011.

Renato Chua, professionally known as Rhene Imperial, a former action star, former producer and currently born-again Christian minister in the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Recto Avenue</span> Major road in Manila, Philippines

Claro M. Recto Avenue, more popularly known as simply Recto, is the principal commercial thoroughfare in north-central Manila, Philippines. It spans six districts just north of the Pasig River in what is generally considered Manila's old downtown area.

The Bahala Na Gang (BNG) is a street gang founded in the Philippines which subsequently spread to the United States.

Bentot Jr. was a Filipino actor, and the adopted son of the late comedian Bentot. He had an older brother, Nick Medina, who is also known as Bentot Jr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine drug war</span> Campaign against illegal drug trade in the Philippines

The War on Drugs is the intensified anti-drug campaign that began during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, who served office from June 30, 2016, to June 30, 2022. The campaign reduced drug proliferation in the country, but has been marred by extrajudicial killings allegedly perpetrated by the police and unknown assailants. By 2022, the number of drug suspects killed since 2016 was officially tallied by the government as 6,252; human rights organizations and academics, however, estimate that 12,000 to 30,000 civilians have been killed in "anti-drug operations" carried out by the Philippine National Police and vigilantes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Bilibid Prison drug trafficking scandal</span>

The New Bilibid Prison drug trafficking scandal is a criminal investigation and political scandal concerning allegations of government involvement in illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa, Metro Manila, Philippines. The allegations were made by President Rodrigo Duterte after announcing that the two top convicted drug lords in the country continued to run their drug rings from inside the national penitentiary with former administration officials and their local government cohorts as co-conspirators. On August 25, 2016, Duterte released a drug matrix showing the structure of drug trafficking operations at the New Bilibid Prison and identified the two former top officials of the Department of Justice, the former provincial governor and board member of Pangasinan, and the former Bureau of Corrections director as being involved in the Bilibid narcotics trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaybee Sebastian</span> Filipino criminal

Jaybee Niño Manicad Sebastian was a Filipino high-profile inmate interned at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) who was convicted for kidnap-for-ransom and carnapping in 2009. He was known for running a prison gang and was allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade within the prison.

Quezon City Jail is located in Quezon City northeast of Manila, Philippines, in the National Capital Region (NCR). It reports to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). The prison was built in 1953 for 800 inmates but has since held 3,800 prisoners.

<i>Ang Panday</i> (2017 film) 2017 Filipino film

Carlo J. Caparas' Ang Panday is a 2017 Filipino superhero fantasy action film based on the eponymous comic book character created by Carlo J. Caparas along with his co-creator Steve Gan. Serving as the seventh installment of the Panday series, the film is co-written, directed and produced by Coco Martin, who also stars in the title role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Bagong Diwa</span> Police camp in Taguig, Philippines

Camp Bagong Diwa is the headquarters of the National Capital Region Police Office, located in Lower Bicutan, Taguig, Philippines. It was formerly called as Camp Ricardo Papa in 1999 to early 2000s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manila City Jail</span> Jail in Manila

The Manila City Jail, popularly known as Old Bilibid Prison, is a detention center in Manila, Philippines. It is one of the most overcrowded jails in the world.

On October 3, 2022, Percy Lapid, a radio journalist and radio broadcaster, was shot dead while on his way home in Las Piñas, Metro Manila, Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerald Bantag</span> Philippine corrections officer

Gerald Quitaleg Bantag is a former Filipino corrections officer and retired jail officer who served as Director-General of the Bureau of Corrections. As of July 2023, a manhunt is underway for his capture due to his alleged major role in the killing of Percy Lapid in 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 Bonilla, Lordeth. "Parak dedo sa grupo ng mga adik". PhilStar . January 6, 2017
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ashburn, Franklin G. "Some Recent Inquiries into the Structure-Function of Conflict Gangs in Manila City Jail" (PDF). Asj.UPD. July 25, 2007
  3. Nagoshi, Keisuke (October 2006). "Filipino Gangs". Vice . January 10, 2006
  4. Sadongdong, Martin. "Cop Killer Arrested". Pressreader . January 13, 2017
  5. "LEADER OF SIGUE-SIGUE SPUTNIK GANG AND NONOY ROBBERY/SNATCHING GROUP ARRESTED IN SAMPALOC, MANILA". NCRPO. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2021. July 28, 2020
  6. 1 2 Buan, Lian (November 11, 2020). "The Bilibid riots: Drugs, guns, and blades". Rappler . November 11, 2020
  7. Torres-Tupas, Tetch. "Bilibid riot started by Sigue Sigue Sputnik gang members — report". Philippine Daily Inquirer . October 11, 2020
  8. Torres-Tupas, Tetch. "3 dead, 64 injured in latest Bilibid riot". Philippine Daily Inquirer . November 9, 2020
  9. "Bahala Na vs. Sputnik (1995)". IMDb. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  10. Hincks, Joseph. "How Mobster Turned T.V. Presenter Louis Ferrante Was Unwillingly Co-Opted into Rodrigo Duterte's Propaganda Machine". Time . August 11, 2017
  11. "Man Gets Attacked by Gang In The Filipino Slums | Beyond Human Boundaries S1 EP4 | Wonder". YouTube. May 11, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2021.

See also