OSMEÑA SAYS: Curfew won’t solve frat wars

Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday said strict implementation of the city’s curfew ordinance is not the solution to fraternity violence in the city.

Aside from lack of policemen to implement it, the mayor said the law cannot be fully implemented because authorities cannot even arrest the minors who are members of fraternities and gangs.

The issue on implementation of the city’s curfew ordinance was brought up again in the wake of the recent fraternity violence in Mango Square that killed a barrister and seriously wounded a taxi driver.

Some suggested for the strict implementation of the ordinance to prohibit minors, especially those in fraternities and gangs from being outside their houses at night.

“The curfew ordinance is not the solution to fraternity wars.  It is not implementable because we don’t have enough policemen.  We could not even arrest children because of the law that protects them,” Osmeña said.

The mayor explained that the city is too big and there are not enough policemen for deployment in all areas of the city to go after minors breaking curfew.

Osmeña added that the ordinance cannot even be implemented in the barangay level because of the limited number of barangay tanods.

He said that the ordinance is good and should be implemented all the way because if it is not sustained, the children may believe that the law is inutile and meaningless.

“Legislation is not the solution itself, it’s management.  Legislation means nothing if we can’t implement it,” he said.

The curfew ordinance prohibits minors from leaving their houses from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.  The law was enacted in 1957 and approved by then Mayor Sergio Osmeña Jr., Tomas’ father. Corresponding penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment are imposed for violation of the ordinance.  — Wenna A. Berondo/BRP