Manila Mayor Isko Moreno passed the memorandum implementing City Ordinance No. 8547 last September 2. The ordinance effects a curfew for individuals under the age of 18 as a way to enact protections and discipline hours. This follows an episode wherein Moreno responded to an incident of loitering children causing a disturbance late Sunday night, possibly due to them being high on rugby.
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The newly instated curfew prohibits minors from loitering, wandering or standing by in public areas within Manila from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. It also penalizes the parents of these minors caught for perceived neglect. Parents of children 12 years old or younger will be fined Php 5,000 and can face imprisonment for up to 6 months. Parents of 13- to 14-year-olds will be fined Php 3,000 and can face imprisonment for up to 3 months while parents of 15- to 17-year-olds will be fined Php 2,000 and can face imprisonment for up to a month.
Strict implementation begins today. Magkaisa at magtulungan po tayo, mga Batang Maynila. 🇵🇭#BagongMaynila pic.twitter.com/z1aZvasNun
— Isko Moreno Domagoso (@IskoMoreno) September 2, 2019
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Just on its first day of implementation, the Manila Police District (MPD) took 435 minors into custody for staying out past the city curfew on their own. They were noted as having been “rescued” between the times of 10 pm Monday, September 2, and 4 am Tuesday, September 3. MPD Station 1 Commander Reynaldo Magdaluyo announced that these children could be picked up by a parent or guardian with a copy of the minor’s birth certificate.
“Police reports and statistics would show that breach of peace and order in the city at this time are caused by minors roaming around the city. The City Council further noted that the policy of the City of Manila to promote the physical and moral well-being of children is not achieved,” Moreno stated in his memorandum.
Do you agree with the implementation of a curfew in Manila? Let us know why or why not in the comments!
