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[av_heading heading=’CURFEW FOR MINORS | Nightly brgy patrols to catch violators’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Thursday, March 16, 2017
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ILOILO City – All the 180 barangays started enforcing the curfew ordinance for minors last night.
Every night, village councils will be mobilizing their barangay service patrols, according to Liga ng mga Barangay president Reyland Hervias.
The barangay service patrols (tricycles) will be manned by a team composed of a barangay official and barangay tanods.
“Before the start of the curfew hours, magalibot ana mga patrols dala ang megaphone informing the parents nga panipunon na nila ang ila kabataan sa ila panimalay,” said Hervias.
Minors caught roaming the streets during curfew hours will be apprehended and endorsed to the City Social Welfare and Development Office, which in turn will be responsible to turn over the youngsters to their parents or guardians.
Regulation Ordinance No. 2006-020, which amended Regulation Ordinance No. 2011-676 (Curfew on Minors), sets the curfew hours from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. of the following day.
Minors are also prohibited from selling or vending whatever items (including food and beverages) even with the presence of their parents or guardians, and its shall be unlawful for business establishments to admit minors within their premises during curfew hours.
The curfew aims to shield youngsters from illegal activities, said Hervias, an ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP). He noted the frequent occurrence of youth gang violence in the city.
The city government’s Task Force on Morals and Values Formation head George Duron sought the Liga’s help in the enforcement of the curfew ordinance, added Hervias.
During Tuesday’s regular session of the SP, Councilor Joshua Alim urged colleagues to revisit all ordinances related to minors, including Regulation Ordinance No. 2012-180 (Liquor Ban for Minors). He observed that this was not being enforced or that business establishments and the minors themselves were deliberately ignoring it.
Alim suggested that the SP committee on police matters to summon the owners of establishments selling liquor.
Under the curfew ordinance on minors, any 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 day
* fourth violation – closure of the establishment for five days; and
* fifth violation – revocation of business permit.
Meanwhile, Duron said parents or guardians of minors violating the curfew ordinance should be held liable.
“Under the Family Code, parental authority shall be jointly exercise by husband and wife,” Duron pointed out.
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. It is principally for unescorted minors and aims to minimize incidents of crime involving juveniles.
Under the ordinance, minors are prohibited from loitering beyond 11 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.
One district where minors are fond of staying out late at night is the bustling Mandurriao where the popular entertainment complex Smallville is located./PN
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