Manila to fine curfew violators’ parents

MANILA, Philippines — The city government of Manila will impose fines on the parents of minors violating curfew under an ordinance Mayor Isko Moreno  signed yesterday.

Ordinance 8243 imposes higher fines for the parents of younger curfew violators: for 12 years old and below, parents must pay P5,000 and face up to six months’ imprisonment; for 13 to 14 years old, P3,000 and up to three months in prison; and for 15 to 17 years old, P2,000 and up to one month in prison.

The ordinance provides for the stricter enforcement of Ordinance 8547, which sets the curfew in the city from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. the following day.

Moreno signed Ordinance 8243 after more than 20 children, who were reportedly huffing model airplane glue fumes, were rescued from streets on Sunday.

“The policy of the city of Manila is to promote the moral and physical well-being of children and the reason why it is not attained is because of non-cooperation and non-liability of the parents or guardians,” he said.

Moreno also ordered the police to locate those supplying model airplane glue to the street children and charge them with drug pushing.