Why just now?
In 2014, the Quezon City local government unit passed an ordinance (Ordinance No. 2301) implementing a curfew on minors from 10pm to 5am. The said ordinance stipulated that “the parent or guardian of the curfew violator will be penalized for allowing the minor to go out during this period, either ‘knowingly or by insufficient control.'”
The ordinance also asserts, “A minor found violating the curfew for the first time will be referred to the nearest barangay hall or police station. The parent or guardian will be fined PHP2,000 or be required to render community service for 48 hours.”
Since that ordinance was approved, there have hardly been any reported cases of parents being arrested because their underage kids violated the curfew. Well, now, things are different.
Perhaps in a bid to show support for incoming President Rodrigo Duterte, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has filed charges against parents and guardians of street children who were rescued during its recent operations to get minors off the street during the hours covered by the QC curfew.
READ: Duterte: Parents of minors who break curfew rules will be arrested
“Chief Supt. Edgardo Tinio said joint personnel of the Women and Children’s Protection Desk of QCPD, Department of Social Welfare and Development and Quezon City Social Welfare and Development Department conducted the rescue operations,” reports Melnie Ragasa-Jimena on Journal Online.
The parents who got arrested this time around allege that they don’t deserve to be put behind bars. Nevertheless, they are facing charges for violating Republic Act 7610 or the “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.”
