Las Piñas warns minors: Observe curfew hours

From inquirer.net:

By Dexter Cabalza

To prevent harm from coming to minors in the city, the Las Piñas City government will be strictly implementing the curfew for teens.

In a statement, Mayor Imelda Aguilar ordered police and barangay officials to impose the city’s curfew ordinance which prohibits minors from loitering in the streets from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. the next day.

As a mother, my heart goes [out to] children and minors being victimized by criminals. I believe these heinous incidents will not happen if we as parents and adults, as well as law enforcers, do our part in giving them love and guidance,” she said.

File Photo from Wazzup Pilipinas

Aguilar directed the police to coordinate with the City Social Welfare Development Office (CSWDO) “to guarantee the safety of children and minors.”

Barangay officials should also treat curfew offenders “with caution and deal with them appropriately when accosting them,” she added.

Under the curfew ordinance, minors found in the streets are to be escorted home and turned over to their parents or guardians.

In the absence of an adult at home, the minors must stay at the barangay hall and be released at 7 a.m. the following day.

Repeat violators, however, will be referred to CSWDO for counseling.

Aguilar said the ordinance was “not meant to threaten the youths but … protect them from falling prey to criminal elements and prevent them from committing crimes.”

“We must not compromise the welfare and safety of our children since it is our obligation as parents and public servants to protect them from any threat or harm,” she added.

Exempted from the ordinance are emergency cases, minors accompanied by parents or guardians, those who are on an errand upon the instruction of an adult or are attending a school or religious event.