After violent incidents, Mandaluyong cracks down on minors outside homes at night

Local officials of Barangay Addition Hills in Mandaluyong City are intensifying their campaign on children roaming the streets at night amid reports of juvenile delinquency. 

In Emil Sumangil’s Monday report on 24 Oras, a video showed two minors reportedly attacking students who were on their way home.

In another video, two girls were shown fighting, pulling each others’ hair while being egged on by a group of spectators. 

“Hindi lang po ito para sila’y bugawin, kundi para bigyan sila ng tamang leksyon at tamang pag-aruga ng kanilang magulang,” Barangay Captain Carlito Cernal said.

(The campaign is not meant to drive them away but to teach the children and their parents a lesson.)

According to Cernal, barangay officials are now intensifying their efforts to catch minors who are found wandering the streets in the wee hours of the evening.

Those apprehended will undergo counseling while their parents or guardians may be fined P1,000 to P5,0000 plus possible jail time of three months to up to one year. They will also be required to perform community service. 

Meanwhile, some guardians of the minors thanked local officials for taking action. 

“Malaking tulong sa amin, lalo na sa pamangkin ko, kasi kahit noon pong bata pa sya, pasaway na po. Tumino na siya,” a guardian said. 

(This is a great help for us including my nephew, who before was the source of headaches because of his  poorattitude. He has become a better person now.)—Sundy Locus/RF, GMA Integrated News