MANILA, Philippines – Starting Monday night (Sept. 2), the city government of Manila will intensify the implementation of its curfew ordinance that would penalize the guardians according to the age of their wards.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso signed a memorandum Monday ordering local police and village chairmen to strictly enforce City Ordinance No. 8547.
The move comes after Domagoso and his team rescued over 20 minors off the streets of Tondo and Binondo in a surprise inspection on Sunday night.
The rescued minors, which include at least 16 males and four females aged between 8 to 12 years old, were reportedly caught using solvent and drinking alcoholic beverages.
“Paano namin nalaman na may magulang? Eh kasi ito rin ‘yung mga batang naaresto namin o nakuha namin o nasagip namin a few weeks ago. So, ibinabalik lang at balik lang sa kalye,” he told reporters at a press briefing.
Under Ordinance No. 8547, teenagers below 18 years old are prohibited from loitering or wandering or standing-by in public areas from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. the following morning.
The city ordinance establishing protection and discipline hours for minor children and wards in the city of Manila was enacted on June 28, 2018.
It repealed Ordinance No. 8046 s. 2002 which was declared null and void by the Supreme Court in its decision dated August 8, 2017, after the Samahan ng mga Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) questioned the curfew ordinance implemented by cities of Manila, Navotas and Quezon.
The measure also expanded the list of exemptions under the local policy, such as being forced to stay out late for work, school, civic and religious activities; provided, however, that the minors went home without detours.
Under the existing City Ordinance No. 8243, parents of erring minors will be slapped with graduated penalties that correspond to their supposed level of accountability according to the age if their wards.
If the minor apprehended is 15 years to 17 years of age, parents will face a fine of P2,000 or imprisonment of one month.
If the minor is 13 to 14 years of age, parents will be slapped with a fine of P3,000 or imprisonment of three months.
If the minor is around 12 years of age and below, parents will mete out a fine of P5,000 or imprisonment of six months.
Mayor Isko in his memorandum also ordered all village chiefs to strictly enforce the ordinance in their respective areas of jurisdiction “in order to achieve the goals of protecting and promoting the welfare of minors in the city.
The city police are likewise directed to submit weekly reports on the matter while the city social welfare department is tasked to coordinate with concerned agencies to adopt effective implementation programs consistent with the goals of the said policy.
Mayor Isko warned that failure to comply with the directive will mean charges for said local officials.
“Pag hindi sila tumupad sa kanilang tungkulin, mayroon din silang pananagutang administratibo,” he said.
Domagoso added that sari-sari stores that will be found selling liquors to minors will also be charged. RRD (with details from Correspondent Harlene Delgado)
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