To address concerns about criminality involving the youth, the Puerto Princesa City Police Office (PPCPO) conducted on Friday night a city-wide Synchronized Anti-Criminality Law Enforcement Operations (SACLEO).
The SACLEO focuses on the enforcement of ordinances and regulations imposing a 10-p.m. curfew for minors.
“Matagal na nating ini-implement ‘yan. Kagabi nagkaroon ng magandang resulta. It was participated not only by the PPCPO but also by the local government and most especially the City Anti-Crime Task Force (ACTF) led by CIO Richard Ligad,” P/Col. Marion Balonglong, city police director, told Palawan News on Saturday.
The joint operation was conducted with personnel from the ACTF, City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) and barangay officials.
Balolong said these operations to implement the curfew on minors will help prevent criminality involving the youth.
He said their operation was focused in the areas of Baltan, Buncag and Quito districts where many gang fights occur.
“Although nag-implement din sa ibang mga barangays natin sa Puerto, pero ang medyo na-concentrate ay ang tatlong areas na ‘yon,” he said.
Balonglong said the minors caught during the operations were brought to the PPCPO and later transferred to the custody of the CSWD at Mendoza Park for verification.
He said the parents and guardians were able to fetch all the children and minors from CSWD’s custody before 3 a.m of the following day.
“Kagabi noong nagdatingan ang mga magulang, marami akong comments na narinig. Kagaya ng inutusan niya raw ‘yong anak niya na bumili ng sibuyas alas-onse ng gabi, which is parang impractical po ‘yong reasoning kapag tayo ay nag-iisip. ‘Yong isa po namang magulang sabi niya, ‘Tama po ang ginagawa niyo na ‘yan dahil sa totoo lang ay pinagsa-sabihan naman namin itong mga anak namin pero hindi naman sila nakikinig.’ Hindi lang kayang tiisin ng magulang ‘yong anak kaya nila pinuntahan din kagabi doon,” Balonglong said.
He said most of the parents appreciated their efforts and some expressed willingness to volunteer in their succeeding operations.
In a Facebook post, Richard Ligad, City Information Officer (CIO) and ACTF chief, said there were 47 minors taken into custody for violating the 10 p.m. curfew, 12 for drinking outside residential premises, and three half-naked persons caught in public areas.
He said the youngest that was taken into custody was a 10 years old child.
Ligad also said that this strict implementation of the curfew for minors is mandated by section three of City Ordinance No. 544.
The ordinance provides that in the first offense, the minor will be kept within the premises of police station under the care of social welfare personnel until a guardian or parent fetch them.
The ordinance also says that unless there is a valid reason for further detention into another confinement area, the minor must be released not later than 2 p.m. of the same day he was taken into custody.
For the second and subsequent violations, an imprisonment of three to five days or a monetary penalty of P300 to P600 shall be imposed for each violation depending upon court’s discretion.
