THE Davao City Police Office (DCPO) called on residents to obey the city’s anti-mendicancy policy and avoid giving alms to beggars.
This is to support the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) in its reinforced anti-mendicancy campaign launched on October 6. The DCPO aims to supplement the program with their own information and education campaigns towards violators of the said law.
Presidential Decree 1563 or the Anti-Mendicancy Law of 1978 prohibits the act of soliciting money and stipulates a penalty of P1,000 and imprisonment of not more than four years to those who habitually beg. Parents who use their children to ask for alms and those who give alms may also face penalties.
DCPO spokesperson PCapt. Hazel Tuazon, during the Madayaw Dabaw Program on Wednesday, said police forces all over the city have been given a marching order by DCPO City Director Col. Alberto Lupaz to monitor beggars in busy streets.
“Naa’y mando sa tanang station commanders sa atong mga istasyon dinhi sa Davao City Police Office to conduct monitoring aning mga nagpalimos dinha sa kadalanan kay kini makamugna man gud ni siyag kahasol ug kanang delikado sa mga motorista dinha. Delikado pud ni on the part sa mga manglimos kay basin maligsan sila (There is an order for all station commanders of the Davao City Police Office to conduct monitoring of beggars on the streets because their activity causes inconvenience and endangers motorists. The beggars are also in danger of getting hit by cars),” said Tuazon.
Tuazon added that the city police are also tasked to educate those who solicit money and those who give alms about the law they are violating. However, she admitted the police force alone will not be able to fully implement the law without the cooperation of the community.
“Dili lang ni sa kapulisan, ang komunidad gyud dako kaayo og tabang ani nga balaod para wala gyud ta’y makita na manglimos sa kadalanan (This is not only for the police, the community will greatly help in imposing this law so people will no longer beg in busy roads),” Tuazon said.
The DCPO, in partnership with the CWSDO, continues to conduct rescue operations in areas mendicants frequent, Tuazon said.
Residents may call the police or visit the nearest police station to rescue vagrants who put themselves in danger when soliciting for money on busy streets and make a habit of putting themselves in the middle of traffic to beg. CIO