Solon files 'unsafe hour's for children's bill' to address "tambay" situation

Lanao del Norte -Bagong Henerasyon Party-list and Chair, Committee on Women & Gender Equality  Rep. Bernadette Herrera Dy file House Bill 7513 or the proposed Unsafe Hours for Children Act as part of the solution being worked on to address the "tambay" situation.

"Palagay ko ang mas dapat bantayan ng PNP ay mga nagpaplanong magnakaw sa mga kabahayan at mga kriminal na naghahanap o nag-aabang ng mabibiktima. Huwag po nating idamay ang mga kabataan".Rep.Herrera Dy said.

She said that Children and youth are the most vulnerable segment of the population and it is incumbent upon us who are parents and elders to keep them safe from harm and high risk.

The HB 7513 seeks to protect children below the age of 18 because they are vulnerable to abuse leading to exploitation, drug addiction, and the commission of criminal acts also being at the risk of committing criminal offenses themselves.

"We see nearly every day and night on television news the CCTV footages of children and teenagers figuring in gang wars, petty theft, street crimes, and violent skirmishes.

The legal bases of this bill is solid. It drew lessons from the Quezon City Ordinance which the Supreme Court upheld as constitutional on August 8, 2017" Rep.Herrera Dy said.

House Bill 7513 seeks to mandate and strictly implement a set of hours during night time (10pm to 5am) within which minors are prohibited from remaining outside of their home.

It is one way to maintain public order and safety and preventing the further rise in criminality. It is a way to protect minors from potential threats at unsafe hours at night.

The Solon also said that they worked on this bill because of the increasingly alarming number of children who have gone missing for over 24 hours, children that are abused by syndicates and unscrupulous individuals, as well as have been involved in crimes concerning abduction, rape, abuse, and theft, murder, among others.

She also thank and appreciate PNP NCRPO Director Guillermo Eleazar for pointing out the wrongful arrest of a Quezon City resident reported by CNN Philippines. This is one clear example and reason for the necessity of clear protocols on implementing local ordinances on criminality.

Herrera Dy said "I am not against the tambay ops of the PNP, but for better implementation of it, so I ask PNP headquarters, NCRPO, and QCPD to come up with a clear set of protocols and bases for its implementation of arrests and rounding up of "tambay" or loiterers on our streets.

On my part, I have instructed my office personnel and field staff to share the very informative PNP mobile apps and anti-crime information materials to the general public"

"The PNP protocols should not just clearly state the situations of probable cause, but also the specific provisions of national laws and local ordinances authorizing the police to conduct roundups or make arrests without warrants.

The PNP can also make use of its newly-acquired drones to monitor the streets and street crimes"solon continued.(By:Mike Navarro/with reports from staff of BH Partylist)