ILOILO City – Citing the guidelines issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ), Mayor Jerry Treñas said violators of the curfew in line with the ongoing enhanced community quarantine would be detained for 12 hours.
However, since police station detention cells are not big enough for social distancing to be observed, Treñas said the violators would be “detained” in basketball courts.
Also, he said, when the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has eased, appropriate charges would be filed against the violators.
Treñas appealed for the cooperation of everyone.
“Ang aton enhanced community quarantine para lang sa isa ka bulan (until April 14). Kon magsigi kita ka pinasaway, madugayan pa ‘ni. Kita man tanan guihapon ang mabudlayan,” he said.
The curfew is from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. and covers all people in the city except in cases of emergency and if the sole purpose of going out is to buy food, medicines, basic necessities and prime commodities.
Exempted from the curfew are the following:
* those working in industries and businesses with a work schedule within the curfew hours (such as those in the business process outsourcing industry and healthcare)
* persons on their way home from work
* authorized government officials
* those traveling for medical and humanitarian reasons
* persons providing basic services and public utilities
* persons delivering food and medicines
* essential skeletal workforce of the city and provincial government of Iloilo
Punong barangays, barangay councils and barangay tanods are authorized to primarily implement the curfew.
Other implementers are the City Social Welfare and Development Office, police, Task Force on Good Morals, Iloilo City Peace and Order Council, and other deputized persons.
As of April 1, 817 curfew violators have been arrested since the start of the enhanced community quarantine on March 20.
Data from the Iloilo City Police Office showed the following districts having the most number of curfew violators: Molo, 228; Jaro, 189; and La Paz, 145.
Regarding minors violating the curfew, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Western Visayas issued guidelines to help authorities – policemen, local officials and even concerned citizens – properly handle youngsters.
According to DSWD regional director Evelyn Macapobre, if the children are residents of the barangay, the following steps must be observed:
* The barangay shall take custody of the minor.
* The barangay will register the child as a “child at risk” (CAR) in its logbook.
* Information needed from the minor must be taken using the intake sheet of the barangay.
* The parents or guardians must be duly informed.
* The minor is then turned over to the parents or guardians.
If the minor is categorized as “high risk” based on the guidelines of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC) as assessed by the Local Social Welfare and Development Office (LSWDO), the LSWDO will conduct an “assessment and intervention conference” and design an intervention if deemed proper.
If the minor is a non-resident of the barangay, the following should be observed:
* The barangay where the minor is found shall take custody of the minor.
* The barangay will register the child as a “CAR” in its logbook.
* Information needed from the minor must be taken using the intake sheet of the barangay.
* The child will be turned over to his/her barangay of residence.
If the parents or guardians cannot be located, the child will be turned over to the local social welfare office./PN
