By Erma Edera
Around 400 minors were taken into custody by the Manila Police District (MPD) on the first few hours of implementation of the local government’s curfew in the nation's capital.
Minors are temporarily detained at a police station after local officials and police found them roaming the streets at night, past the curfew hour in Manila, September 3, 2019.
(CZAR DANCEL / MANILA BULLETIN) This, after Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso signed a memorandum ordering village chiefs and local police to strictly implement city ordinance Ordinance No. 8547, which disallows persons below 18 years old from wandering or loitering in public areas. According to MPD chief Police Brigadier General Vicente Danao Jr., 435 children were gathered up by police from 10:00 p.m. September 2 to 4 a.m. Tuesday. The Balut police station rescued the most number of minors with 64. The parents of minors who will be caught by the authorities will have to face sanctions ranging from P2,000 plus one month imprisonment up to P5,000 plus six months of imprisonment, depending on the age of their children. MPD Station 1 Commander Reynaldo Magdaluyo said the parents of the minors should present the birth certificate of their children to be able to pick up them. However, those children who will not be fetched by their parents will be brought to the Manila Youth Reception and Action Center. Last Monday, the memorandum signed by Moreno cited that “police reports and statistics showed that breach of peace and order of the city at this time are caused by minors roaming around the city.” The Manila chief also directed the Department of Social Welfare of Manila to coordinate with the village chiefs to ensure the effective implementation of the city ordinance. Read more: Manila imposes curfew for children
Minors are temporarily detained at a police station after local officials and police found them roaming the streets at night, past the curfew hour in Manila, September 3, 2019.(CZAR DANCEL / MANILA BULLETIN) This, after Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso signed a memorandum ordering village chiefs and local police to strictly implement city ordinance Ordinance No. 8547, which disallows persons below 18 years old from wandering or loitering in public areas. According to MPD chief Police Brigadier General Vicente Danao Jr., 435 children were gathered up by police from 10:00 p.m. September 2 to 4 a.m. Tuesday. The Balut police station rescued the most number of minors with 64. The parents of minors who will be caught by the authorities will have to face sanctions ranging from P2,000 plus one month imprisonment up to P5,000 plus six months of imprisonment, depending on the age of their children. MPD Station 1 Commander Reynaldo Magdaluyo said the parents of the minors should present the birth certificate of their children to be able to pick up them. However, those children who will not be fetched by their parents will be brought to the Manila Youth Reception and Action Center. Last Monday, the memorandum signed by Moreno cited that “police reports and statistics showed that breach of peace and order of the city at this time are caused by minors roaming around the city.” The Manila chief also directed the Department of Social Welfare of Manila to coordinate with the village chiefs to ensure the effective implementation of the city ordinance. Read more: Manila imposes curfew for children