Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla dismissed public disclaimers issued by representatives of True Brown Style (TBS), maintaining that law enforcement will dismantle the group over its alleged involvement in criminal activities and the grooming of minors.
The statement follows public denials from individuals claiming to represent TBS, who asserted that the organization functions as a community youth group rather than a criminal network.
Remulla rejected those claims, stating that intelligence gathered by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) links members of the group to street crimes, including robberies and physical assaults across urban centers.
”Hindi katanggap-tanggap sa Republika ng Pilipinas na sila na ang may-ari ng kalye. We will take it back, the barangays, mawawala lahat ’yan,” Remulla said.
Remulla added that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. instructed security agencies to intervene before the group expands its footprint further.
”Sila ang next order of attention namin na bubuwagin na namin ang mga community-based syndicate na mga 18 to 20 years old, gino-groom ’yong mga bata na 14, 15 para maging kriminal,” Remulla stated.
The PNP and local government units have intensified community monitoring and intelligence gathering in coordination with the National Capital Region Police Office to identify leaders and prevent the recruitment of minors into criminal operations.