Quezon City Mayor Herbert M. Bautista welcomed the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court that prohibits local law enforcers including barangay personnel from imposing curfew ordinances for minors in Quezon City and other cities.
Bautista said it would be to the best interest of the public that the court looks into the constitutionality of the city ordinance.
The TRO was the result of a petition filed by the Samahan ng mga Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK), assailing the constitutionality of Quezon City Ordinance No. SP-2301, along with Manila City Ordinance No. 8046 and Navotas City Ordinance No. 2002-13, all imposing curfews on minors.
Ordinance 2301, series of 2014, known as the “Quezon City Discipline Hours for Minors” was enacted in response to complaints about the rising number of minors roaming the streets, endangering motorists or getting involved in street crimes and illegal drugs.
The ordinance also penalizes the parents or guardians who allow a minor to remain in public places during the said hours and imposes penalties against them.
However, the measure exempts minors who are in public places but are accompanied by their parents or guardians.
In Manila, mayor Joseph Estrada ordered the Manila police and city hall personnel to stop the apprehension of minors for curfew violations and other related city ordinances.
This as Estrada suggested that President Duterte should be the one to order the nationwide implementation of curfew for minors rather than having it separately enforced by each local government unit.
“Well, basta it would come from the President. When the President orders it, pass it to Congress, that’s it, we have to follow,” said Estrada.(Chito A. Chavez)