Cops: Kids barred from internet cafes

CEBU, Philippines — The police are reminding the public to maintain the enforcement of the minimum health standard protocols in the use of internet cafes as public schools opened classes yesterday.

Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Chief Albert Ignatius Ferro has reminded the public that those who are aged 21 and below are still prohibited to go out amidst reopening of classes.

"The 21 below should not be in public places.  Internet cafe is a public place, so if they are violating, then we will ask their parents to explain.  And if they are in legal age, then they will be arrested and will be put into jail," Ferro told reporters yesterday.

Ferro added that parents in Central Visayas should take the IATF guidelines seriously as the region is still under the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ).

"We should maintain this because we are doing good.  With the civilian cooperation, we are doing very, very well.  But dili ta magkompyansa because we don't know the unseen foe and we may have a different way of transmission, we could maintain the substantial gains," he added.

The force multipliers Task Force Kasaligan has previously rescued eight minors in Barangay Tisa who were caught playing inside the internet cafe, thus violating the minimum health standard protocols.

The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has mentioned that they will be closely eyeing the internet cafes to make sure that it will be regulated.

"So if the (police) have rescued these minors, they are not sleeping, they are doing their job.  They should just continue and I believe that nothing will go wrong if we will just do our job properly," said Ferro.

At present, the police have enforced stricter measures over internet cafes thus asking owners to come up with innovations to make sure that health protocols will not be violated while operating. — GAN (FREEMAN)