Mayor Isko orders strict enforcement of curfew on minors

MANILA — Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Monday said his administration will now implement the city’s curfew hours for minors in “full blast”.

In an ambush interview with the media, Domagoso said there is a new city ordinance which seeks to establish protection and discipline for minor children and wards in the area from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

“Iyong lumang curfew, na-invalidate ng Supreme Court. May bagong ordinance, 8457 series of 2018, kung saan in-adopt din yung (The old curfew was invalidated by the SC. In the new ordinance, 8457 series of 2018, it also adopted the) ordinance regarding penalty for parents,” Domagoso added.

According to the ordinance, parents of 15 to 17-year-old minors violating the curfew hours will be charged PHP2,000 penalty and one-month imprisonment; for parents of 13 to 14 year old minors, PHP 3,000 penalty and three months imprisonment; and for parents of 12 year old minors and below, PHP 5,000 penalty and six months imprisonment.

“As I have promised you three weeks ago, maghahanap kami ng batas para panagutin ang mga magulang na pabaya sa kanilang menor de edad na anak, nagiging talamak na solvent sa Manila, nagiging talamak na pagtulog ng mga bata sa kalye (we will look for a law that will penalize parents who neglect their minor children. Solvent is widespread in Manila, many minors are sleeping on the streets),” Domagoso said.

Domagoso added that the minors they rescued from the streets three weeks ago returned to the streets because their parents fail to look after them.

“Kinakausap namin (yung) mga bata, yung iba bogsa pa, tusok pa. Trese anyos, Red Horse na tinitira. Naging talamak ang kapabayaan, nasanay sila na walang gobyerno (We talked to the children, others are high on solvent, [others are] drunk. Some are only 13 years old and are drinking Red Horse already. Neglect of minors has been prevalent because the people got used to lack of government attention),” he said.

“Pangangalagaan at po-proteksyunan namin (ang) mga bata (We will protect and take care of the children). It will be a campaign,” he added.

Domagoso stressed that the city government will be strict in implementing the ordinance especially the penalties to be charged on the minors’ parents.

“Kung dalawa ‘yung bata, then dalawang tatlong libo, doble ang offense. Kung sinabi ng korte na kulong, ipapakulong sila (If two minors are concerned, it would mean two PHP3,000, the offense is double. If the court says imprisonment, they will be sent to jail),” he said.

Citing that the implementation of the ordinance is effective Monday night, Domagoso said the city government will file an administrative case against barangay chairmen who fail to implement the curfew in their respective areas.

“We have to put order in the streets of Manila. It’s really hard for me to do these things, we have to care for these children as a government, not only because we are required by law, but morally as a parent, we have to care for these minors,” he added.