BY MINKA TIANGCO
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At least 34 parents of minors who were caught violating community quarantine guidelines were arrested and will be charged by Manila city government and police, officials reported Thursday.
This came days after Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso warned parents that they will be prosecuted if they allow their minor children to go out in public without face masks and during curfew hours.
Domagoso on Wednesday said members of the Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW) and Manila Police District (MPD) rounded up parents from Barangays 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 221, and 228.
The arrested parents will be charged with violation of City Ordinance No. 8243 or the Anti-Child Endangerment Ordinance of the City of Manila and Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
Those who cannot afford to post bail will have to stay in jail, the local chief executive said.
“We’re not happy about it. I am not happy. I don’t want to separate children and parents. But I will do that if you’re irresponsible parents. I will intervene as government to take care of our children or minors. That is also the job of the government, to intervene,” he said in his city address.
“I have to bite the bullet, I have to implement the law to keep the order in Manila,” he added.
The Manila mayor reiterated his call to parents to keep their children indoors and to take the threat of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) seriously.
