THE number of minors rescued by the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) on the second night of the implementation of Oplan Bulabog has doubled.
Police, with the help of barangay officials, took 68 minors off the streets between 10 p.m. Wednesday, August 10, 2022, and 4 a.m. Thursday, August 11, 2022.
The number is higher since police started earlier. They only rounded up 34 minors on the first night since they didn’t start their patrols until past midnight.
The CCPO decided it would follow the curfew ordinance that the late mayor Edgardo Labella signed in 2020, which states that minors are not allowed outside their homes between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.
According to Lt. Col. Wilbert Parilla, CCPO deputy director for administration, they will implement Oplan Bulabog on a regular basis, especially after they’ve noticed that more minors have been violating the curfew.
Parilla said they don’t want a repeat of what happened to 16-year-old Grade 10 scholar Jerome Estan who was robbed and killed by five persons, four of whom were minors, in Barangay Bulacao late Saturday night, August 6.
“Karon nagsugod na ta sa 10 p.m. sa pagpatuman base sa ordinansa. So again, ato na sad ni i-coordinate sa office of the mayor, considering nga naa ni siya’y existing executive order, which is 12 midnight mag-start ang curfew (We will start enforcing the 10 p.m. curfew on minors, which is based on the city ordinance. We will have to coordinate with the mayor’s office since the mayor signed an executive order that set the curfew at midnight),” Parilla said.
The Abellana Police Station has rescued the highest number of minors, most of whom were found loitering in Gen. Maxilom Ave. and begging for food.
Parilla said many of these minors have been living on the streets.
After their rescue, the minors were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Services of the City Government.
Parilla said they didn’t encounter any problems in the interior portions of barangays that are residential because the children there go to bed early.
However, he said he ordered police stations to check establishments that operate 24 hours and internet cafes to make sure there are no minors inside at 10 p.m. Minors who are caught violating the curfew will be asked to go home or turned over to the barangay.
“We’ve included internet cafes and 24-hour establishments in our patrols to ensure we catch violators,” Parilla said in Cebuano.
Regionwide
Meanwhile, Police Regional Office 7 Director Brig. Gen. Roque Eduardo Vega ordered all unit commanders in Central Visayas to enforce the curfew on minors starting on Thursday night, Aug. 11, to protect them from harm.
Vega’s order came after Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. issued a directive to all police personnel to strictly enforce ordinances of local government units and barangays to ensure peace and order on the country’s streets 24/7.
“Panatilihin po natin ang kaayusan sa ating paligid, lalung-lalo na sa mga barangay na iwasan ang inuman sa kanto. Walang mambabastos sa ating mga kababaihan. Walang mandurukot at walang maingay sa mga kabahayan katulad ng karaoke or videoke na nakakaisturbo sa iba lampas alas diyes ng gabi (Let’s maintain peace and order in our surroundings, especially in barangays. Let’s avoid drinking on street corners. No harassment of women. No to petty theft and no to loud music coming from houses like karaoke or videoke that disturbs the neighborhood after 10 p.m.),” Vega said.
He said liquor intoxication is one of the main causes of public disturbance, which can lead to fights.
“I urged the public to help the police maintain the peace and order in the community. I also asked the police to coordinate and discuss the plan of action with barangay officials and tanods on the peace and order situation and strict implementation of ordinances in their respective AOR (area of responsibility)," he added.
Vega also ordered his men to improve police visibility by conducting more patrols, especially at night, as a deterrent to crime. (AYB, PJB)