Manila curfew begins tonight

Residents of Manila are advised: A curfew banning persons under 17 years old from the streets of the city takes effect tonight at 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. the following day.

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza said officials of 897 barangays in the city’s six districts will accost minors roaming the streets of the country’s capital.

Exempted are minors accompanied by parents or guardians as well as those who have to leave their house in cases of emergency.

Under the law, sanctions will be limited to a reprimand on parents or guardians if the offender is under 15. For those 15 to 17, first time offenders will be ordered to make a written pledge to render community service for not more than two hours.

Second-time offenders will be warned and their community service increased to four hours.

Third-time offenders will be charged. If found guilty, violators could be sentenced to 10 days at the Manila Youth Rehabilitation Center and a fine of P2,000.

The approved ordinance calls for the imposition of a curfew on a daily basis. But Atienza said it could be lifted on certain weekends to allow teenagers to socialize.

Elements of the Western Police District (WPD) will be on the streets to help enforce the curfew.

While the implementation of the ordinance rests on barangay officials, WPD director Senior Superintendent Pedro Bulaong has ordered the district’s 11 station commanders and their men to be ready to help.

Teachers in secondary and elementary schools have been given the task of disseminating information about the curfew, authored by Councilor Julio Logarta Jr. from the city’s 6th district.

"Our teachers, whose advocacy is to instill self-discipline and sense of responsibility among the youth, are in an enviable position to help educate their students about the rationale of the imposed curfew," Councilor Luciano Veloso said.

Veloso said curfew seeks to protect minors from lawless elements like drug pushers, drug addicts and violent gangs roaming the streets at night and up to the wee hours of the morning. – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Mike Frialde, Nestor Etolle