Implementation of minors’ curfew in Cebu City starts
WITH shootings happening at night, the Cebu City Government in coordination with the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) started their roundup operations of minors in all 80 barangays last night.
This, after the City Council passed a resolution ordering the strict enforcement of City Ordinance 1786, or the curfew ordinance.
The ordinance prohibits minors from loitering outside their residences from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. the following day.
“We’re trying to avoid having minors involved in shooting incidents, which usually happen at night time and dawn. It’s also to prevent them from being mistaken as a drug user or pusher,” Acting Vice Mayor Dave Tumulak told reporters yesterday.
Aside from barangay police personnel, CCPO Director Senior Supt. Joel Doria and some of his personnel joined last night’s roundup.
Tumulak said rescue operations will not only cover interior portions of barangays, as they will also check internet cafes, bars, plazas and other public areas.
He said he will ask the Department of Education Cebu City Division to make sure class dismissal at night high schools is 9:30 p.m. to give students time to go home.
“Penalties”
While the Association of Barangay Councils initially planned to conduct an information drive to remind the public about the provisions of the ordinance, Tumulak said they’ve decided during a meeting with the CCPO to immediately proceed with the operation to prevent endangering the lives of minors.
For the first offense, parents will have to pick up their children at the barangay hall, where they will sign an agreement that they won’t allow their children to wander at night.
Second offenders will have to attend a seminar, while third offenders will have to do mandatory community service.
For the fourth offense, the City Government will charge parents or guardians with violating Republic Act 7610, or the AntiChild Abuse Law.
The acting vice mayor, however, clarified that the City will not impose any monetary penalty or imprison the parents.