CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City Prevention Restoration Order Beautification and Enhancement (PROBE) team is warning parents that if their children are caught unsupervised after the 10 p.m. curfew for minors, they will be held liable.
On the first night of the lifting of curfew for adults in Cebu City, the PROBE team recorded two minors rescued after they were caught loitering outside their homes without adult supervision.
“Diha tay nadakpan duha ka minors. Actually, dili kita nidakop, giturn over lang sa atong holding area gikan sa barangay. So ato pud giturn over sa DSWS (Department of Social Welfare and Services) staff. Kini sila after na sa alas dyes, nagsuroy-suroy gihapon. Giprocess na to para mapatawag ang ginikanan,” said Racquel Arce, the head of the PROBE team.
The Executive Order (EO) No. 163 of Mayor Michael Rama or Oplan Kagawasan states that the curfew is lifted but minors will still be imposed a curfew of 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. as accorded in an City Ordinance.
Minors may go out as long as they are with their parents or guardians.
Arce admits that the lifting of the curfew has lightened the load of the PROBE team in monitoring curfew violators at night.
However, because minors are still imposed a curfew, their team will continue to roam around at night to ensure that minors are off the streets during their curfew hours.
The city government cannot arrest minors, but they will be taken into custody and will be turned over to social services to be returned to their parents.
While minors cannot be penalized for violating the curfew, the parents will definitely take the brunt of the violation.
“Ipatawag na ang ginikanan para iclaim ilang anak. Ilecture na ang ginikanan sa social services and ang social services nay modecide kung ilang pahamtangan og community service or pabayron ang ginikanan,” said Arce.
Parents may be imposed a fine of up to P1,000 if their children will be caught violating the curfew. If they cannot pay the amount, they may be told to do community service of up to 8 hours.
Arce advised parents to always check the whereabouts of their children at night because they can face the sanctions for any violation their children may incur.
She urged them to take control of their household and be responsible for each member of their family.
/bmjo
RELATED STORIES:
Cebu City removes major COVID-19 restrictions
Will Cebu City lift curfew? Find out on Charter Day says Rama