58 TBS members nabbed in Mendiola protest, says DILG

MANILA — At least 58 members of the alleged gang True Brown Style (TBS) were among the 200 individuals arrested during the September 21 protest in Mendiola, according to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

Remulla said the figure was based on the government’s investigation into those arrested during the protest.

“Out of the 200 we arrested last September 21 doon sa Mendiola, 58 were members of True Brown Style. So nakikita ‘yung propensity for violence nila,” Remulla said Tuesday.

The DILG chief also reported that authorities arrested 13 more TBS members for various offenses on Monday.

“To show that we are serious against the grooming of children towards violence,” he said.

Remulla had previously described TBS as a group that originated in California in the United States and later expanded in the Philippines.

According to the DILG chief, the group has evolved from a small organization into what he described as a criminal syndicate, with members mostly in their late teens and early 20s.

He claimed the group recruits children as young as 14 or 15 years old and allegedly requires them to rob stores as part of initiation rites.

The DILG has been monitoring social media threats and pursuing community-based gangs amid concerns over the recruitment of minors.

The department said authorities earlier arrested 53 individuals allegedly involved in gangs accused of grooming children to incite violence in schools following the Zamboanga incident.

“This campaign will go on, it will not stop. We will work with the DepEd, we will work with the communities to make sure that the path forward is a safer environment for our children,” Remulla said.

Despite the crackdown, Remulla said he remains open to dialogue with TBS members.

He said he plans to meet with members of the group in Cavite next week to explain the government’s policy.

“They are rational individuals. Tingin ko naman madadaan natin sa usapan. Pero kung makukulit talaga sila, eh di pasensyahan kami.”