RAMPANT reports of crimes involving minors have prompted Bacolod City Councilor El Cid Familiaran to propose a resolution requesting the city mayor to reconvene the task force to strictly enforce the curfew on minors.
Familiaran, chairman of the Committee on Police, Security and Jail Management, disclosed that he received complaints from residents in various puroks and subdivisions in the city regarding theft, robbery, physical injuries, vandalism and other crimes involving minors.
The number of these incidents has become alarming, he stated. Based on the Women and Protection Center (WPC) and police records, the cases usually involved minors who are below 18 years of age.
Section 13 of City Ordinance No. 331, Series of 2003 imposes a curfew on minors and mandates the City Mayor to create a task force on curfew of minors. The task force shall serve as an Oversight Committee and shall likewise monitor the effectiveness of the ordinance's implementation.
The ordinance spells out the composition of the Task Force: representatives from Department of Social Services and Development, chairman of the SP Committee on Laws or Social Services; Philippine National Police; Commission on Human Rights; president of Sangguniang Kabataan Federation; Liga ng mga Barangay; Parents Teachers Association Federation; representatives from educational and religious sectors; and non-government organizations which cater to family and children's welfare.