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Joe wants village watchmen as curfew enforcers ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – The city government has been struggling to enforce the curfew ordinance for minors. Mayor Jose Espinosa III believed he may have found the solution in barangay tanods.
The new mayor wanted village watchmen to take a vital role in the city government’s campaign to curb criminality, beginning with the strict implementation of the curfew for minors from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
“I’m going to focus on this. Lain gid kon kada corner may tanod,” said Espinosa.
Just this Nov. 1, All Saints’ Day, two minors figured in separate stabbing cases in Barangay Tanza, City Proper.
Espinosa wanted barangay councils to reactivate their respective village watchmen.
“Empowering barangay tanods is my thrust,” he said.
For starters, Espinosa would be arming them with truncheons (batuta).
“Nag-order na kita batuta. Amat-amaton ta sila provide,” he revealed.
Espinosa also wanted barangays to maximize the use of their “tricycle patrols” provided by the city government.
“Those were for tanods’ patrolling operations. Isa ka problem, indi sila kapatughong gamit ang ila pundo unless i-donate sa ila so gina-prepare na naton ang deed of donation,” said Espinosa.
Wayward teens are becoming a growing problem for the city police. A strict implementation of the curfew for minors may avert gang wars, said Senior Inspector Shella Mae Sangrines, city police spokesperson.
Some quarters may have been frustrated by the incapacity of the city government to enforce the curfew and opted to take matters into their own hands. Masked men with airsoft guns shot minors loitering late night in the districts of Jaro, Arevalo and Mandurriao last month.
In August, a vigilante group was reported to have attacked with whips (latigo) youth gangs and those violating the curfew.
Under Regulation Ordinance No. 2016- 230, which amended Regulation Ordinance No. 2011-676, minors (those below 18 years old) are prohibited from loitering beyond 10 p.m. in restaurants, nightclubs, motels, dancehalls, amusement places such as Internet cafes, video arcades, karaoke bars, billiard halls, beach resorts and other similar establishments.
Also under the curfew ordinance, minors are prohibited from selling or vending whatever items (including food and beverages) even with their parents or guardians around, and its shall be unlawful for business establishments to admit minors within their premises during curfew hours.
Espinosa said he would be summoning barangay captains to a meeting.
“I would like to encourage barangay captains to strengthen our barangay tanods because their presence is important in serving as force multipliers of the police. They also help during rescue operations,” said Espinosa.
One district where minors are fond of staying out late at night is the bustling Mandurriao where two popular entertainment complexes – Smallville and Boardwalk – are located.
The Iloilo City Police Office launched in March this year Project Bringing Order to the Nemesis of Gangs (BONG) to address incidents of youth gang-related violence following the relaunching of the curfew for minors.
“We have to maintain BONG. It’s a crime-preventive measure,” said Sangrines.
She did not discount the possibility of holding the parents of arrested minors legally liable./PN
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