Rody wants Marcos-era mendicancy law scrapped

MANILA, Philippines – President Duterte enjoys caroling in the streets during Christmas season despite claims that the practice places children at risk. He wants the law banning it repealed.

“One of the things I really hate is the prohibition of caroling, I tell you,” the President said yesterday.

The President was apparently referring to a Marcos- era law prohibiting mendicancy enacted in 1978.

“I could not even see the rationale (behind the measure against) mendicants,” Duterte said.  

“There are many laws that I do not like that I want repealed. But anyway, that would come,” he added.

Presidential Decree 1563 or the Anti-Mendicancy Law was signed by former president Ferdinand Marcos to “prevent the exploitation of infants and children through mendicancy and provide rehabilitative services for those already exploited or in immediate danger of exploitation.”

Under the decree, individuals who are 15 and below found begging or are being used as a mendicant to beg shall be apprehended and placed under the custody and care of the social services department or any duly licensed child placement agency or individual.

The same decree penalizes mendicants with a maximum fine of P500 or by imprisonment for a period of up to two years or both.

A habitual mendicant shall be slapped with a fine of up to P1,000 or by imprisonment for a period of up to four years or both. Any person who abets mendicancy by giving alms to mendicants, exploited infants and minors on public roads, sidewalks, parks and bridges shall be fined up to P20.

Social welfare officials during previous administrations have asked local governments to stop children from caroling on busy streets to avoid accidents. They also discouraged motorists from giving money to carolers, saying the practice endangers the lives of street children.