Cops to enforce ban of videoke at night

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has assured that it will "unhesitatingly" enforce in the community ban on using videoke during the late hours of the night, following the installation of its new commander.

Newly-installed city director, Senior Superintendent Royina Garma, said that she has already directed the CCPO Investigation and Detective Management Branch to check on the existing city ordinances that will hold persons caught using videoke during the night lawfully accountable.

"We will enforce all ordinances to make sure peaceful ang community.  I have directed the IDMB to research on existing city ordinances as well. I assure the community that I have targets to accomplish in terms of peace and order, criminality and especially in the war on drugs," she said.

The directive came following the statements of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who said that he would cut the allowance the city gives to the police force if karaoke continue to be a bother in the community.

"I'm giving a warning to all the police in the different precincts that I do not like complaints of noisy karaokes. I will blow my cap and cancel allowance just to be sure I mean business," he said.

Osmeña, during his speech to bid farewell to Garma's predecessor Senior Superintendent Joel Doria, who served his mandatory two-year service, said that he receives at least 200 texts a day complaining about the noise of karaoke.

"Peace and order does not only include drugs, some of which, even our tanods and police are not responsive. I get 200 texts a day, and I can see reluctance on the police to crackdown on the noisy karaokes," Osmeña said.

He said that the problem has bordered to a personal problem for him since he would receive the complaints in the middle of the night, preventing him to get a sound sleep.

Based on previous reports, an active officer assigned in Cebu City receives P2,500 monthly allowance. The amount also varies based on the rank.

Garma assured that the ban of videoke during the late hours will be among the top ordinances that police will address.

Lawmakers have already made a move to ban karaoke past 10 p.m. to reduce possibilities of crime.

House Bill No. 1035, filed by Quezon Representative Angelina Tan, prohibits videoke machines and other noise amplifying equipment to operate beyond 10 p.m.

Violators will be fined P1,000 or an imprisonment of six months. (FREEMAN)