Sgt. Ernesto 'Boy' Ybañez: Tirtir Gang

Sgt. Ernesto 'Boy' Ybañez: Tirtir Gang, or simply Tirtir Gang, is a 1988 Philippine action film co-written and directed by Willy Milan. The film stars Sonny Parsons as the titular character. Produced by Double M Films International, the film was released on July 28, 1988.

Critic Lav Diaz gave Tirtir Gang a negative review, criticizing its confusing characterizations and implausible action scenes which undercuts its assertion of being based on true events.

Cast

 * Sonny Parsons as Sgt. Ernesto 'Boy' Ybañez
 * Eddie Garcia as Greg
 * Vivian Foz as Chedeng
 * Charlie Davao as Waldo
 * Romy Diaz as Sgt. Macaroyo
 * Lucita Soriano as Coching
 * Carol Dauden as Grace
 * Renato del Prado as Tata
 * Roland Dantes as Col. Nabiula
 * Ross Olgado as Col. Cruz
 * Mario Escudero as a police reporter
 * Usman Hassim as Erning Bakal
 * Robert Miller as Robert
 * Pons de Guzman as a judge
 * Fred Moro as a gang leader
 * Marco Polo as Tisoy
 * Fernan Morato as Henry
 * Garry Garcia as Garry
 * Manny Doria as Manny
 * Ben 'Pinoy' Sagmit as Ben Bisay
 * Bong Varona as Bong
 * Arlan Israel as Rolando
 * Robert Talby as Roberto
 * Tom Alvarez as Tommy
 * Carlos David as Caloy
 * Ver Rodriguez as Virgilio
 * Stanley Orong as Stanley
 * Arnold Esguerra as Arnold
 * Rusty Santos as Gen. Ramos

Release
Tirtir Gang was released on July 28, 1988.

Critical response
Lav Diaz, writing for the Manila Standard, gave Tirtir Gang a negative review. He criticized the film's confusing depiction of its characters, highlighting the main character Ybañez as being depicted a good man but is shown throughout the story hanging around his criminal friends, neglecting his family, and committing adultery with a hostess, resulting in an unconvincing film. Diaz also noted that because the film is based on a true story, the excessive action scenes and the implausible depiction of a tactically poor Sparrow Unit, a revolutionary group of the New People's Army, negatively underscores the artistic liberties taken by the film.