25 Notorius Filipino Mafia

25 Notorious Filipino Mafia

(Originally Written by Brian in February 2023, Updated by Kennedy O in February 2024)

The Notorious Filipino Mafia is a shadowy criminal organization that operates in the dark underbelly of society, using violence and intimidation to achieve its goals. The mafia is made up of a network of cunning and ruthless individuals, who operate with utmost secrecy and impunity.

Their activities include drug trafficking, extortion, money laundering, and contract killings. The Notorious Filipino Mafia’s operations are highly organized, with strict hierarchies and a code of conduct that all members must adhere to. Those who cross the mafia often face dire consequences, as the mafia is known for its brutality and utter lack of mercy.

The mafia’s top brass is made up of a select group of leaders, who possess immense wealth and power. These bosses are feared and respected throughout the criminal underworld, and their orders are carried out with ruthless efficiency by the mafia’s rank and file.

Despite their wealth and power, the Notorious Filipino Mafia is constantly under threat from rival criminal organizations, and from the relentless efforts of law enforcement agencies to bring them to justice. The mafia is a potent force in the criminal underworld, and their activities have far-reaching consequences for the wider society. In the article are twenty-five notorious Filipino mafias.

1. Bahala Na Gang

The Bahala Na Gang (BNG) is a street gang founded in the Philippines that 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 sales. 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 theft. This group is known for its 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 properties, identifying weak security points, and executing a swift and coordinated break-in. Their operations are often executed with great precision and efficiency, allowing them to avoid detection and apprehension.

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 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 its modus operandi of “sales,” 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 mistrust.

10. Martilyo Gang

The Martilyo Gang is a band of ruthless bandits known throughout the land for their fearsome reputation and brutal raids. The group is so-named due to their favored tool of destruction – a massive, spiked hammer known as a “martilyo.”

The gang’s members are drawn from the darkest and most nefarious corners of society, each possessing a unique set of skills that they bring to their heinous acts of violence and robbery. The Martilyo Gang is led by a charismatic and cunning leader, Sulayman Dimapuro. Sulayman Dimapuro commands the loyalty and respect of his followers through sheer force of will.

Their raids are characterized by terrifying and frenzied chaos, as the gang descends upon their targets with a cacophony of shouts, blows, and thunderous hammer strikes. Despite their brazen tactics, the Martilyo Gang is incredibly difficult to track down and bring to justice, often slipping away into the night like ghosts.

The people live in fear of the Martilyo Gang’s next attack, never knowing when or where they will strike next. It falls to a brave and determined few to stand up against the bandits, bring an end to their reign of terror, and restore peace to the land.

11.  Arturo Porcuna

There have been several feared Filipino Mafia who terrorized people with their criminal activities. Arturo Porcuna was one of the notorious Filipino gang leaders who was feared during his reign of terror. His reign of terror was in the 1960s in Manila. Arturo was well known for his style of violence among the Manila gangs.

However, he met the end of his life on 24th December 1963. In the wee hours, Arturo was with two recruits at his house when they were shot and killed by the police. His life story was told in a 2013 documentary known as ‘Boy Golden: Shoot to Kill’.

12. Asiong Salonga

The 1950s saw the rise to prominence of Asiong Salonga, an infamous Filipino mobster, as a major player in Manila’s underworld. Having been born on April 15, 1928, as Nicasio Salonga, he headed a gang that engaged in extortion, murder, and unlawful gambling. Salonga’s adventures served as inspiration for folklore and films, solidifying his place in Philippine popular culture. But he was shot dead in 1951, ending his life prematurely, leaving a legacy cloaked in mystique and a preoccupation with society’s darker edges.

13. Benjamin Garcia

For many years, the renowned Filipino mobster Benjamin Garcia dominated Manila’s criminal underground. Garcia rose through the ranks of organized crime with brutality and cunning despite coming from a poor background. He accumulated enormous riches and terror by controlling extensive networks engaged in extortion, drug trafficking, and illegal gambling. Because of his fame, Garcia became a mythical figure in Filipino criminal history, evoking in the population a mixture of intrigue and horror. His dread, however, was short-lived as one of Manila’s most feared crime lords was ultimately captured by the authorities in a spectacular raid.

14. Ama Perez

Also known as Baby Ama, Marcila was one of the most surprising Filipino Mafia known in history. Marcila began his life in crime when he stole money to fund the education of his friend. He was arrested and sent to Bilid prison to serve his sentence.

Marcila received mistreatment and torture while behind bars which aided in making him a hard-core criminal. While in prison, Marcila’s life took a tragic turn when he learned that his pregnant wife had committed suicide. He became a hitman behind bars as he murdered rival prisoners but was executed by the electric seat.

15. Robert Yabut y Marmol

A mysterious character in the Filipino criminal underworld, Robert Yabut y Marmol skillfully and deftly negotiated Manila’s murky waterways of illegal activity. Yabut rose from obscurity to become a criminal empire by combining cunning and charisma.

His involvement in several illicit activities, such as extortion and drug trafficking, brought him fame and fortune. Yabut continued to operate in the shadows and avoid capture, eluding law enforcement’s attempts to catch him. However, he was captured in 2020.

16. Leonardo Menecio

In the Filipino Mafia world, Leonardo was among the most feared individuals by both members of his gang and other gangs. There was a myth that he used charms to protect him from capture by police. He was popularly known by his Alias Nardong Putik.

His major role in the crime was involvement in the assassination of several political figures in the 60s. He was also involved in gunning down the NBI agents. However, his life came to a tragic end when he was ambushed by an agent of the NBI with 60 bullets being recovered from his body.

17. Warlito Toledo

Warlito was another feared criminal who resided in Cebu. His major criminal activities were raping and murdering women. Initially, Warlito was a family guy who cherished his family but something happened to his wife changing his ways.

His wife was raped and murdered which channeled his inner demons and started his criminal activities. He is believed to have been killing 40 women daily after raping them and easily got away from law enforcers. His other criminal activities are not known.

18. Raymart Yabut y Marmol

Raymart Marmol who is a well-known Filipino criminal and relative to Robert Yabut y Marmol is another feared gangster. Together with his brother, he has been involved in multiple gang-related incidents. His operations were never successful for a long time as he was arrested in June 2020 alongside Robert and other Sputnik gang members.

19. Crisanto Maguddatu

Another notorious Filipino Mafia is Crisanto Maguddatu. He is a known leader of a robbery group that operates in Manila. His gang usually targets commuters who are robbed of their belongings.

Following a tip and close observation, he was taken into custody by the Manila Police District. He had a.38 caliber pistol and a sachet of shabu, or methamphetamine, on him when the raid was conducted.

20. Gerald Agustin

Another member of the Sputnik gang is Gerald Agustin who has close ties with Robert and Raymart Yabut y Marmol. His criminal activities are the same as the other gang members of Sputnik in terms of robberies and violence. He was arrested at the end of October 2020 alongside May Junio.

21. May Junio

Junio, a member of the Sputnik gang, has also been involved in numerous horrific crimes throughout his career in the underworld. Known for working closely with Gerald Agustin and the top-ranking leadership of the gang, May Junio was involved with selling illicit substances and taking part in more criminal activities. He was arrested alongside Gerald towards the end of October with three bags of shabu worth 81,600 were recovered from them.

22. Niño Baccay

Another Filipino gang member who resided in Quezon City, Niño Baccay was notorious for his criminal activities when he was free. Other than dealing in drug trafficking, Niño is well known for his other criminal activities like robberies which put him under the radar of police for a very long time.

In 2017, Niño was not lucky as his days were numbered. In a buy-bust operation in the City of Quezon, Niño was among the gang members who were arrested. Niño Baccay was convicted for the alleged selling of an illegal substance, methamphetamine.

23. Ramon Narciso y Contreras

Rumored to be a powerful force in Manila’s underworld, Ramon Narciso y Contreras was a mysterious character. Conceivably, Contreras engaged in several illegal operations. He was recognized for his cunning and strategic thinking. His origins and level of engagement in organized crime are unknown, despite rumors of his influence. To date, many who are acquainted with Manila’s dark side are nevertheless intrigued by his mysterious character.

24. Rizalina Francisco

Rizalina is another prominent figure in the Filipino criminal underworld who had the police forces on their toes. Alongside Manuelito Estomata Francisco and June Ozamiz Francisco, they lead the Kuratong Balelengwas gang.

He has been a target by the police who was finally arrested and brought to book. In 2018, Rizalina was arrested alongside the other gang leaders. They had plans of reviving the criminal gang in Zamboanga del Sur, but their plans were halted after the arrests.

25. Octavio “Ongkoy” Parojinog

Octavio “Ongkoy” Parojinog was the first leader of the Kuratong Balelengwas who was handpicked by the Philippines Armed Forces. He allegedly started using the group for criminal operations in addition to its official stated objective. Even though the military ordered them to disband, they continued their unlawful activities during peacetime, even though they were successful in driving away the majority of the insurgents from these three provinces. Since then, the syndicate has been implicated in other smaller organizations around the area due to its involvement in kidnapping, robberies, drug trafficking, and other crimes. They started engaging in extortion, murder, kidnapping, smuggling, and unlawful gaming.