DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte said he will no longer order the arrest of the parents of children found sleeping in the city’s streets.

"I think dili nako magpa-priso ug mga ginikanan. I already talked to the prosecutors and judge for humanitarian reasons," Duterte said in his Sunday's television program "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa."

But this does not mean the parents can abandon their child just as easily, Duterte said, adding that he has ordered barangay captains to act on the problem.

"We would still continue the rounding up, pero tanan bata madakpan… it beholds upon the barangay captain to make a report and summon the parents of these children," Duterte said.

Duterte said the parents should follow the instructions of the barangay or face the consequences.

"If parents will not do as instructed, then children will still go to the streets. That is when we will file charges against you. That is how we will do it," Duterte said.

The mayor said the city will take care of the homeless children, particularly those who have lost their parents.

Duterte earlier explained that rounding up street children does not mean they are being arrested, but only to place them under custody for their own protection.