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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Tuesday, April 11, 2017
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ILOILO City – A total of 159 youngsters from six districts were caught violating the curfew ordinance for minors since its relaunching nearly a month ago.
The arrests were made from March 15 to April 6, according to the Iloilo City Task Force on Morals and Values Formation (TFMVF).
The district of Jaro had the highest number of violating minors at 48, followed by Arevalo district with 27, City Proper with 24, La Paz and Molo with 23 each, and Mandurriao with 14.
According to task force chief George Duron, majority of the violators were boys (131).
Regulation Ordinance No. 2016- 230, which amended Regulation Ordinance No. 2011-676 (Curfew on Minors), set the curfew hours from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
According to Duron, all of the arrested minors were turned over to their respective parents.
The parents were also warned.
All of these minors, except for one, were first-time curfew offenders, said Duron.
“So as not to deprive them of due process, we inform the parents of the violation of their children and remind them of their responsibilities,” said Duron.
Parents of erring minors may be imprisoned from 30 days to six months, he warned.
They will get a “first warning” on the first offense, “last warning” for the second offense, and subpoena from the court for the third offense, said Duron.
One minor was caught violating the curfew ordinance twice already, he revealed.
TFMVF will hold a special meeting with the minor’s parents and their barangay captain then issue the parents a “final warning.”
Also under the curfew ordinance, minors are prohibited from selling or vending whatever items (including food and beverages) even with their parents or guardians around, and its shall be unlawful for business establishments to admit minors within their premises during curfew hours.
Violating business establishment shall be meted with the following sanctions:
* first violation – written notice of warning
* second violation – imposition of a P5,000 fine
* third violation – closure of the establishment for three days
* fourth violation – closure of the establishment for five days; and
* fifth violation – revocation of business permit.
Wayward teens are becoming a growing problem for the city police. A strict implementation of the curfew for minors may avert gang wars but the cooperation of parents is needed, said Senior Inspector Shella Sangrines, city police spokesperson.
The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) counted at least 25 youth gangs and most of their members were minors or those below the legal age of 18.
The city ordinance imposing curfew for minors has not been properly enforced for years. It is principally for unescorted minors and aims to minimize incidents of crime involving juveniles.
Under the ordinance, minors are prohibited from loitering beyond 10 p.m. in restaurants, nightclubs, motels, dancehalls, amusement places such as Internet cafes, video arcades, karaoke bars, billiard halls, beach resorts and other similar establishments./PN
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