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[av_heading heading=’‘Simbang gabi’ not an excuse to loiter ‘ 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 RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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ILOILO City – The traditional simbang gabi is not an excuse for minors to flout the curfew, according to the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).
The curfew is from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. But with the simbang gabi usually starting at 4 a.m., policemen expect churchgoers – including youngsters – to be up and about much earlier.
What should the cops do?
ICPO spokesperson Senior Inspector Shella Mae Sangrines has this advice to the youngsters: better go straight to church and not loiter in public plazas.
The simbang gabi begins today.
ICPO will be tapping the services of barangay officials and tanods to maintain peace and order and impose the curfew, said Sangrines.
Policemen could be a little lenient since young churchgoers are expected to leave their houses for the church early (still within the curfew hours) but minors are being forewarned.
“If we see minors loitering in public plazas or outside churches before 4 a.m. and with no intention of attending the simbang gabi, they would be rounded up,” said Sangrines.
The ICPO is wary of troublemakers.
“But if we see the minors accompanied by their parents or guardians, no problem,” said Sangrines.
ICPO director Senior Superintendent Henry Biñas ordered precinct commanders to set up police assistance centers near churches.
The simbang gabi is a nine-day dawn mass leading to Christmas day, Dec. 25.
Since October, the ICPO recorded 573 violations of the curfew ordinance for minors.
The month of November had the biggest number of “rescues” at 286, said Senior Inspector Shella Mae Sangines, city police spokesperson.
The ICPO does not refer to the rounding up of curfew violators as an “arrest” but as a “rescue” of erring minors.
There were 230 “rescues” in October and 57 so far this month.
These minors were rounded up for loitering during curfew hours – from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. – sans their parents or guardians.
The city police is enforcing the curfew ordinance in coordination with the city government’s Task Force on Morals and Values Formation.
All rescued minors are referred to the Department of Social Welfare and Development then the parents are informed.
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./PN
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