BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) encouraged tanods of the 61 barangays here to help in the implementation of the curfew for minors ordinance.
City Ordinance (CO) No. 331 provides special protection for children during nighttime by imposing curfew on minors from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
This comes after the reported series of shooting incidents in this city where some of those involved were minors, said BCPO.
Colonel Jeoresty Coronica, officer-in-charge (OIC) of the BCPO, said tanods are the ones who could help the city police in the strict implementation of the ordinance because police officers could not regularly conduct patrol in remote areas like puroks.
“Amo na siya role sang barangay tanods nga magbulig sa aton kapulisan para mapasiguro naton ang peace and order kag ma-remind ang mga parents to be responsible sa ila mga bata. Paglab-ot sang 10 p.m. dapat ara na sa ila panimalay ang mga bata,” Coronica said.
The BCPO OIC added that if minors involved in crimes are 15 years old and below, they have no criminal liability, but their parents have civil liability.
However, those above 15 years old but below 18 years old, if he or she acted with discernment, shall be subjected to the appropriate proceedings.
Last May, the City Council approved a resolution requesting the Office of Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, the BCPO and all barangays to strictly implement CO 331.
“It has been observed that a lot of minors have been seen outside of their homes and are wandering around the city. Some of them have even been apprehended due to involvement in the commission of crimes such as theft, robbery, possession and use of prohibited drugs, and vandalism,” read part of the resolution authored by Councilor Simplicia Distrito.
It added that the strict implementation of the ordinance is one way to rescue and prevent underage children from committing unlawful acts and exploitation./PN