Iloilo barangay official in hot water after forcing teens to box each other

A barangay official in Molo, Iloilo City is in hot water for making two minors settle their quarrel via a public boxing match.

According to Kim Salinas of GMA Regional TV on 24 Oras, the incident, which occurred on March 11, 2025, involved a 15-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy, who is reportedly part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

The two teenagers engaged in a fistfight in Barangay West Habog-Habog, as onlookers cheered.

A video of the incident showed the minors exchanging punches while wearing boxing gloves, allegedly provided by a barangay official.

Barangay Kagawad Lenny Engada admitted to organizing the match out of frustration, as the two minors had been repeatedly fighting despite being reprimanded.

“Hindi na talaga kayo maawat? Sabi ko mula pa noong nakaraan ang konsumisyon ko sa inyo. Hindi ako makatulog sa ginagawa niyo,” she said in the Visayan language. 

(You don't want to settle your differences? They have been giving me a lot of grief. I can't sleep because of your quarrel.)

The girl sustained a knee injury and complained of neck pain after the fight.

The parents and guardians of the minors strongly opposed the kagawad’s method of disciplining their children.

“Hindi siya dapat tularan na uri ng kagawad dahil sa halip na pagsabihan ang mga bata na huwag mag-away, siya pa mismo ang nagbigay ng gloves upang pag-awayin. Hindi ba niya naisip na ang anak ko babae? Maliit pang bata, tapos ang kalaban lalaki,” said Marlon, the girl’s father.

(As a kagawad, people she should not be like her since instead of telling the children not to fight, she was the one who gave them gloves and told them to beat each other. Did she not even consider my child was a small girl who had to fight a boy?) 

“Nagulat ako na ganun ang nangyari. Sabi ko tama na yan. Yung nag-referee ay yung medyo matatanda na. Siyempre nagalit rin,” said Melanie, the aunt of the 14-year-old boy.

(I was surprised on what happened. I told them to stop. Those who referred were also older. I was angry.)

Engada apologized for her actions, “Humihingi ako ng tawad kung nagkasala ako. Wala akong magawa, nadyan na yan.”

(I apologize for my mistake. I can't do anything, it already happened.)

The barangay captain talked to Engada and warned her never to do it again. Meanwhile, the Iloilo City Social Welfare and Development Office held a meeting with the minors and their guardians to address the incident.

The two minors will undergo rehabilitative counseling to prevent further conflicts. —Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News