Safer Cities: 75,492 nabbed

MANILA, Philippines —  More than 75,000 people have been arrested for violating ordinances in Metro Manila in over a week of implementing the Safer Cities initiative, the Philippine National Police reported yesterday.

The PNP said 75,492 people had been rounded up in the streets from April 6 to 13.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said drinking in public places was the top violation followed by men walking shirtless on the streets, minors violating curfew and people using karaoke beyond 10 p.m.

On Monday, 7,325 violators were apprehended, with 2,121 accosted for public drinking.

Shirtless men rounded up totaled 176, followed by 66 minors for disregarding curfew and 356 for late-night karaoke. The remaining 4,516 were apprehended for other ordinance violations.

Police warned and released from custody 4,210 people while 2,884 were fined and 121 subject to charges.

Jonvic apologizes

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla personally apologized yesterday to a man who was fined for being shirtless while mixing cement in front of his house.

Remulla, the brains of the Safer Cities initiative, visited Jhony Lanquino in Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong.

Lanquino’s case had gone viral on social media after his wife, Norietta, protested the fine imposed on him.

Remulla instructed police and barangay officials to exercise “common sense” in arresting ordinance violators.