By Jennifer P. Rendon
Just like in the olden days, the local government of Calinog, Iloilo pushed for minors to be home when the clock strikes 7 p.m.
Citing criminalities involving minors, either as victims or suspects, Mayor Francisco Calvo issued an executive order for the re-imposition of the juvenile curfew from 7 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Unlike other localities in Iloilo, the curfew for minors usually runs from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m.
Calvo’s Executive Order No. 2023-17 (An Order Revising Executive Order 2022-63 Re-Imposing Curfew To Minors from 7PM to 4AM Within the Territorial Jurisdiction of the Municipality Effective Immediately Until Further Notice) was issued on March 14.
Under the previous EO, minors are still prohibited to be on the streets by 7 p.m. but during events, the local government allowed them to stay until 10 p.m., provided that they are with their parents or guardians.
But under the latest EO, the events could refer to general gatherings and removed the specifics like Octoberfest and others.
The EO issued last year was supposed to still be in effect but the implementation was relaxed because of the series of events in the municipality. Thus, the issuance of the revised EO.
Section 1 of EO 2023-17 states that “individuals aged 17 and below shall not be allowed to go out of their homes within the time stated except for the following circumstances:
* Emergencies. Whenever a minor is in need of medical attention, he should be accompanied by an adult).
* Travel to and from Airport or Seaports. Minors should present their tickets if they are to travel from home to ports or vice versa during curfew hours but must be accompanied by an adult).
* Events opened for all by the Municipality. Minors are allowed to witness events hosted by the municipality provided they are accompanied by adults but only until 10PM.
The local police authorities, Calinog Task Force, village officials and the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) are ordered to assist in the monitoring of possible violators.
Violators shall be apprehended.
Along with their parents; they shall be subjected to counseling and other penalties applicable.
On his Facebook page, Calvo noted that since the ease of restrictions after the pandemic, children were again back on the streets.
He added that these minors could either do crimes or be victims of crimes.
On top of that, a few have been subjects of video content that could put them in a bad light.
Calvo said that he is saddened by Calinog’s tag of “Dumog Capital,” which apparently refers to girls caught on video in a middle of a catfight.
While it could be a statement in jest, the moniker did not sit well with the chief executive.
Calvo has also taken into account reports from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) citing that several vehicular incidents, especially those that involved motorcycles, are minors or unlicensed drivers.
For the said reasons, Calvo said that he revised an executive order to reimpose the curfew for minors.
He said that local police, village officials, and municipal authorities were told to make rounds during the curfew hours to arrest violators,
Calvo has also asked parents to do their part in securing their children come nighttime.
