[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’Minors give city cops major headache’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=’#0a0a0a’]
Monday, January 9, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=’#0a0a0a’]
ILOILO City – Wayward teens are becoming a growing problem for the city police. Their parents’ help are being sought.
A strict implementation of the curfew for minors may avert gang wars but the cooperation of parents is needed, said Senior Inspector Shella Sangrines, city police spokesperson.
From the initial count of seven, the number of youth gangs rose to 25 and most of the members were minors or those below the legal age of 18, according to the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).
The city ordinance imposing curfew for minors has not been properly enforced. It is principally for unescorted minors past 11 p.m. and aims to minimize incidents of crime involving juveniles.
“What we can do right now is maximize the police’s presence in areas where these minors usually converge. We’re calling the attention of the parents,” said Sangrines.
Under the ordinance, minors are prohibited from loitering beyond 11 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.
One district where minors are fond of staying out late at night is the bustling Mandurriao where the popular entertainment complex Smallville is located.
ICPO’s updated list identified the following gangs: Be Right Back (BRB), Home Boys, Sperm Rich Kids, Bad Born, Little Brown Style (LBS), Mga Batang Sikat (MBS), Pasaway Singko (P5), Core, Tayga, See Craz Kids Toughies Nice Girls (SHOKTOG), Young Crazy Kids (YCK), Street True Side (STS), D Ilonggos Crew Thugs Amegos (DICTA), Last Kings (LK), Oiys Republic (OR), SPOT, Tailor Gang or Die (TGOD), G-Crown, 5 Star Group, Bihug, Cool Amigos, Street True Side Kids (STSK), SP5, Rool-up, and People Stronger.
Barangay officials helped the ICPO identify these gang spread across the city’s seven districts, said Sangrines.
“We could not really determine how many members each gang has but what is certain is that there are minors. They’re either students or out of school,” she said.
With the Dinagyang Festival fast approaching, ICPO will be utilizing its Public Safety Company and motorcycle cops to monitor the nightly practice of participating tribes to avert rival gangs from clashing.
Under the curfew ordinance, minors are also prohibited from selling or vending whatever items (including food and beverages) even with the presence of their parents or guardians, and its shall be unlawful for any business establishments to admit and allow minors within their premises during the curfew hours (which lasts until 4 a.m.)
Any business establishment violating the ordinance shall be meted with sanctions: first violation, written notice of warning; second violation, imposition of a P5,000 fine; third violation, closure of the establishment for three days; fourth offense, closure of the establishment for five days; and fifth violation, revocation of business permit.
Minors caught violating the curfew, on the other hand, will be turned over to the City Social Welfare and Development Office, which in turn will be responsible in returning the youngsters to their parents or guardians./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
