From this week onwards, parents should be wary as they could be sued for neglect, for not keeping their children at home from 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM.
For when the city authorities start with the curfew on minors, anyone found in the streets un accompanied by parents or unsupervised by adults, these kids would be rounded up, brought to their respective barangays where local officials identify and locate the kid’s parents.
For the city government, the city police would lead in implementing the curfew as well as in regulating their entry into internet cafes during school hours, according to City police chief George Vale.
When in the past weeks, police officers who see minors roaming the streets advise them to go straight home, this time, they would be loaded in patrol cars and brought to their respective barangays.
In the village centers, the assigned desk officer for the night would be tasked to identify and locate the child’s parents, make them sign documents before the authorities entrust the kid to them.
The document would attest to the violation and would be used as evidence for succeeding violations where, instead of the child getting fined or punished, the parents get sued for neglect.
When it starts implementing this week its curfew for minors, Tagbilaran City would be stepping into the spreading ripples of the campaign as the campaign to Rid the streets Of Drinkers and Youth (RODY) arrives here.
Along this line, PCSupt. George Vale appealed to barangay chiefs at the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) meeting last week to set up their own desk officers on night duty to assist the children who may be caught outside their homes.
The desk officers would be tasked to identify and locate the parents of the Child, assist in setting up the program to finally keep minors off the streets and facilitate in the possible filing of appropriate cases of neglect against parents whose children are found to be habitual curfew offenders.
As this happens, a similar program called Oplan Tuktok Hangyo (OPLAN TUKHANG) would also be implemented to knock into the homes of known drug users and personalities in the drug trade and talk to them about stopping before the police could not protect them from danger.
Earlier, Col. Vale has been openly asking the city peace council some advice as to what to do with the minors who are now being used by syndicates to do criminal activities.
Vale and the city police authorities admit that the juvenile justice act makes it hard for them to detain child offenders.
Moreover, with children getting addicted to online computer games, often making them miss school, the city government strictly imposes regulations to the children’s entry into internet cafes.
“Children below 18 years old are prohibited to enter Internet Cafe from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm and when classes are being held,†Col. Vale said.
“The children can only enter internet cafes when they are required by their course as certified by their teachers,†he continued.
Violation to the regulations on internet café entry are as follows: first offense fine of 500.00 to 1,000.00; 2nd offense fine of 1,000.00 to 2,000.00 and 3rd offense which is fine of 3,000.00 and Cancellation/Revocation of business permit.
The owners can also get imprisonment of not more than One (1) month at the discretion of the Court, should they allow kids’ entry during school hours. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)