7 minors held in Mandaluyong

MANILA, Philippines - At least seven minors were arrested in Mandaluyong City Wednesday as the city police stepped up the implementation of an ordinance punishing parents of minors involved in crimes.

The minors and their parents were taken to the city police’s anti-vice unit, where they underwent a seminar on the new ordinance, called the Parental Responsibility Code. The ordinance took effect Monday.

The minors, aged 15 years old and below, violated the 10 p.m. curfew. Police said since it was a minor offense, the minors and their parents were sent home after the arrest was entered in a police blotter and they finished the seminar.

Under the ordinance, parents would either be asked to pay fines or do community service for the first three times they are found tolerating their children’s illegal activities. A fourth offense would mean a one-year jail term for the parents.