BY MARY JOY CAVAÑAS
ILOILO City – In response to the surge in youth gang activity, the city government has intensified its enforcement of Regulation Ordinance 2022-279, known as the “Curfew for Minors.”
The decision aims to curb street violence and protect the city’s young population from getting involved in gang-related incidents.
Street gangs, particularly those involving minors, have become a concerning issue for the city. Recent events, including the tragic death of a 16-year-old boy named Alyas “Mikey” during a fracas in Barangay Rizal Pala-Pala 1, have underscored the urgency of the situation.
Such incidents have heightened community concerns.
The curfew will be stringently enforced across the city’s seven districts: City Proper, Jaro, La Paz, Lapuz, Mandurriao, Molo, and Arevalo. Areas like public markets, plazas, internet shops, bars, and other popular youth hangouts will be under increased scrutiny, especially during the curfew hours, which run from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
The Women and Children Protection Desk Office (WCPDO), City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), the Iloilo City Council for the Protection of Children, and various task forces are collaborating to ensure the ordinance’s effective implementation.
The involvement of barangay officials is also deemed crucial.
Mayor Jerry Treñas directed the city police to delve deeper into recent gang-related events, emphasizing the importance of child welfare and the city’s responsibility to keep its youth safe from physical and psychological harm.
Police Captain Roque Gimeno III, head of Iloilo City Police Station 1, highlighted the severity of the situation by detailing the incident involving alias “Mikey.” The young boy was with a group of friends when they were confronted by a larger group, predominantly minors, leading to a violent altercation that culminated in Mikey’s tragic death./PN
