Downplaying or more appropriately ignoring the “Safe Cities Initiatives’’ may not be a good idea after all as fines ranging from P500 to as high as P5,000 and prison terms of up to six months may be imposed against hard-headed or unruly peace violators, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) warned. 

For stubborn, arrogant and egoistic characters, the DILG said that defiance to the initiative is a big no no as authorities vowed to strictly impose the existing policy on public disturbance, indecency and disorderly conduct without bias or favor even against influential individuals or people holding high positions in the government and private sector.

Apart from the aforementioned violations of the existing policy, the ordinances of the local government units (LGUs) may penalize the violators with community service, suspension or revocation of business permits of establishments like variety stores offering drinks on the streets and sidewalks to their customers while parents or guardians of minors disobeying the curfew hours are liable and will suffer similar fates.

“Mas mabigat ang parusa sa repeat offenders (The punishment is more severe for repeat offenders),’’ the DILG warned.

“Hindi ito simpleng bisyo lang. Kapag may istorbo, may batas na umiiral (This is not just a simple vice. If there is disturbance, a law applies to it),’’ the DILG noted.

Among these violations include public disturbance or alarms and scandals, unjust vexation or disturbance of peace of another individual, resistance or defiance to authorities, and acts against decency in public places.

Likewise, DILG Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic’’ Remulla said the public should get used to roving policemen on the streets as the security thrust focuses on the country’s crime-prone areas specifically with cops and force multipliers stationed in schools to ensure the safety of the students during class hours.

Back then, Remulla recalled that young school children walk to school but things are now absolutely different with parents taking their kids to class to ensure their safety.

“Unang-una, dapat mas mapayapa ang ating mga eskwelahan. Para sa kaligtasan ng ating mga aral ay meron laging nakadestino during school hours na isa o dalawang pulis sa lahat ng eskwelahan. Natatandaan niyo nung bata kayo, bata tayo, pag napasok naman kayo binibigyan na kayo ng baon maglalakad na kayo papuntang eskwelahan (First and foremost, our schools should be more peaceful. For the safety of the schoolchildren, there should be one or two cops dispatched in all schools. You remembered in our younger days, when we were still young, when you go to school, allowances were already given to you, then you will just walk to school),’’ Remulla noted.

Aside from schools, the strategic move where cops will be deployed will target the populous areas, particularly in the different transportation hubs, airports, seaports, bus terminals and the Light Railway Train (LRT) and Metro Rail Train MRT stations.

Police assistance desks are now on-hand where students can freely consult for any eventualities or security concerns.

In short, Remulla asserted that all the Metro Manila public schools will be manned by the police during class hours.

“We will make the students feel safe, we will make the parents feel safe. Ayan ang trabaho ng pulis, yan ang trabaho ng barangay (That is the job of the police, the barangay),’’ Remulla said.

With the “social impact’’ to make the country, Remulla reminded the public to call 911 and alert the DILG why no police officers are deployed in the area, assuring that cops will be immediately deployed.