Saturday, April 29, 2006
Sibonga imposes curfew for minors
Lawlessness among the youth in Sibonga town has reached an “alarming” level, so municipal officials are imposing a curfew for minors.
Leaders said crimes the youth commit such as vandalism, vagrancy and drug abuse often occur during nighttime.
Because of this, they passed an ordinance for a curfew from 10 p.m. to four a.m. for people under 18 years old.
Moreover, officials also noted in the ordinance the rising occurrence of child abuse and other forms of offenses committed against minors in the locality.
The Provincial Board (PB), in last Monday’s session, referred the Sibonga ordinance to its committee on laws and ordinances review, headed by lawyer Antonio Almirante Jr.
Reprimand
If the PB approves the ordinance, first offenders will be reprimanded and admonished and should do community service for eight hours. Second offenders will also be admonished and reprimanded and do community service for 16 hours.
Third offenders, meanwhile, will be jailed for one to 10 days or may be asked to pay a fine of not more than P2,000.
With the ordinance, minors can no longer loiter, wander or stray in any public road, alley, park, plaza, waiting sheds, wharf, public market, beach, karaoke bars and cafeteria and other public areas of Sibonga.
However, minors who are working in the evenings or attending to scholastic, religious and other decent activities or studying in night schools are exempted from the ban.
Exempted
Minors in the company of their parents or performing socio-civic, religious and moral duties are also exempted.
A barangay curfew advisory board, to be headed by the barangay captain with two appointed barangay kagawad as members, will be in charge of implementing the ordinance.
The board will also conduct information drive to guide the residents.
A municipal curfew advisory Board will also be created with the mayor as the chairman.
Barangay tanods or the police are authorized to apprehend offenders and commit the offender in the barangay hall or holding center not more the three hours since the time of apprehension. (MBG)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 29, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
