Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista today clarified that barangay officials and barangay public safety officers can still enforce their respective curfew ordinances despite the temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court.
Bautista said the TRO only covered City Ordinance 2301-2014 or the Quezon City Discipline Hours for Minors ordinance.
He said the Supreme Court ruling, does not prevent the city’s law enforcement agencies from acting to protect the public from threats to their lives and properties.
“If a crime is committed, there can be citizen’s arrest,” Bautista said.
Ordinance 2301was enacted in response to complaints about the rising number of minors roaming the streets, endangering motorists or getting involved in street crimes and illegal drugs.
Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada on Wednesday ordered the Manila police and city hall personnel to stop the apprehension of minors for violating curfew and other related city ordinances.
“I have never enforced City Ordinance No. 8046 that mandates the implementation of curfew in the city and I ordered MPD director Joel Coronel to stop jailing apprehended minors.” The curfew ordinance was approved in 2002 during the term of former mayor Lito Atienza.
Estrada said President Rodrigo Duterte should be the one to impose a curfew.
“When the President orders it, pass it to Congress, then we follow. It could be imposed nationwide with the cooperation of the local mayors,” he added.
The Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order on curfew in three cities—Manila, Navotas, and Quezon City.
Estrada clarified that they were rounding up street dwellers, minors included, and turning them over to the city-owned Manila Boystown Complex in Marikina City.
The city government has also partnered with various non-government organizations in providing shelter to the homeless or transporting them back to their native provinces.