Mandaluyong to punish parents of juvenile offenders

MANILA, Philippines - Parents or guardians of minors in conflict with the law in Mandaluyong City face one year in prison or a fine of up to P5,000.

Under a new ordinance passed by the city council on Feb. 7, a court can cite the parents or guardians of being remiss in their duty if their children were booked for possession of deadly weapons, smoking, alcohol consumption, use of illegal drugs, gambling and violation of the city’s 10 p.m. curfew.

The ordinance stressed that a minor’s deviant behavior could be largely due to the absence or lack of parental supervision.

Councilor Charisse Abalos, author of the ordinance, said the rationale behind the ordinance is that the first people who should be taking care of minors and preventing them from becoming lawbreakers are their parents.

Abalos said it pains her to see children, some as young as 12, repeatedly caught violating laws and being used by street gangs, drug pushers and other criminal groups.

“You return them to their homes and talk to their parents about it – and yet you see the same kids doing it again as if nothing happened,” she said.