Police: Arresting beggars won't deter mendicancy

CEBU – Unless the government can address the pervading problem of poverty, rounding up children who beg for alms will never deter them from returning to the streets, opined city police chief Patrocinio Comendador.

Despite this, Comendador said the police will still comply with the directive of the city council to intensify the campaign against children begging and caroling in the streets. 

In fact, Comendador said he will direct all police station chiefs to coordinate with the different barangays in implementing the city council order.

An existing ordinance imposes a P1,000 fine on those who will be caught giving alms to beggars, yet mendicancy, especially during the Christmas season, seems to be uncontrollable. During this time, children even cling on to passenger jeepneys to sing carols to commuters in exchange for coins.

The city’s anti-mendicancy board is continuously asking motorists not to give alms as this will only encourage the children to return to the streets. In fact, there even was a suggestion to take legal action against parents of children who beg in the streets.

A seven-year-old child interviewed by The FREEMAN said his parents are aware of his activities. The boy was begging for alms just a stone’s throw away from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“Nakahibalo man ang akong papa ug mama nga mangayo ko og kwarta sa mga tag-iya og sakyanan,” he said.

The boy, a resident of barangay Tejero, said his father has no regular job while his mother washes their neighbors’ clothes at times to earn a few pesos. — Rene U. Borromeo/JMO (THE FREEMAN)