ILOILO City – Since January, a total of 603 youngsters from six districts were caught violating the curfew ordinance for minors and health protocols aimed to curtail the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).
The district of Jaro had the highest number of violating minors at 252, followed by City Proper with 148, Molo with 113, Arevalo with 80, and Mandurriao with 41. Three others were apprehended by the ICPO headquarters.
“Most of these minors were arrested during the onset of the pandemic, where curfew was strictly enforced. We gathered all rescued minors in public plazas. We conducted lectures and called the attention of barangay officials,” Police Captain Marlyn Roquero, spokesperson of the ICPO, said.
She expects more violators to be apprehended as soon as Mayor Jerry Treñas signs an executive order imposing longer curfew hours for minors.
Treñas proposed that those below 18 years old, unless accompanied by their parents, will be prohibited from loitering from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.
This aims to “limit non-essential movement of minors,” the mayor explained.
He may hold parents or guardians of the erring minors liable.
The curfew ordinance for minors is from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. It was instituted a few years back to address the surge in late night ruckuses that usually involved youngsters./PN
