TO PROTECT children from sexual predators, an ordinance punishing any foreigner who will be seen with a Filipino child unaccompanied by a Filipino adult was proposed by Davao City Councilor Avegayle Dalodo-Ortiz.
Section 3 of the proposed ordinance passed on first reading states that: "It is absolutely prohibited for a foreigner or group of foreigners to be seen or to be in the company of a Filipino minor or children when such child or children are also unaccompanied by a Filipino adult."
Section 4 of the proposal states that the law does not apply when the foreigner is a relative of the child up to the fourth degree consanguinity.
Persons to be punished include foreigner or foreigners violating the Section 3 of the ordinance, and any Filipino who knowingly places any child or children in the company of the foreigner without him accompanying such Filipino child or children.
Section 6 penal provisions indicate that each person violating the ordinance, shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned of not less than six months.
Having been approved in first reading, the proposed ordinance was referred to the committee on women and children headed by Ortiz for the conduct of committee hearings.