Street, jeepney carolers will be arrested – cops

CEBU, Philippines – The police and Mandaue City's traffic management have warned carolers that they will be apprehended if they are caught doing it in the streets or inside public utility jeepneys.

Glen Antigua, chief of operations of Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue, said they have witnessed through their closed-circuit television cameras a number of vendors who met accidents while on the streets.

He said just the other week, a boy selling bottled water in the streets was side-swept by a passing motorcycle. Antigua said they will show this kind of footages to street and PUJ carolers so they will know the dangers of the trade they chose.

Supt. Julian Entoma of the Mandaue City Police Office said the passengers are also to blame for the mushrooming of PUJ carolers as they easily give them money even before they are done with the singing.

"'Ate, kuya, manaygon ra mi. Ayaw mo kahadlok kay di mi mang-holdap.'Mao gyud na pirmi ilang linya sa una pa," said Entoma, adding that the passengers are possibly scared of getting held up that's why they will just give the money.

Antigua said his office has also received several complaints from passengers of carolers who reportedly threaten them of a holdup if they don't give.

He said car owners have also reported to his office carolers who scratched their cars when they refused to hand them money.

Despite of that, Antigua told the public to still refrain from giving them money so they would stop caroling. He said it's also for the safety of carolers themselves.

Entoma said most of these carolers are Badjaos who are from Cebu City.

The police are already rounding up street children, including these carolers, and turning them over to the City Social Welfare Office for custody while those outside the city has been delivered to their respective homes. (FREEMAN)