MANILA, Philippines -- Internet gaming establishments in Marikina have been warned against allowing students to play during school hours, under pain of losing their business licenses.

Chief Superintendent Sotero Ramos, Jr., the Marikina police chief, said in a statement, that cops have been making the rounds of Internet cafés operating in Marikina to ensure compliance with the ordinance that prohibited Internet gaming among students during school hours.

?We are strictly implementing our ordinance that strictly prohibits Internet establishments from allowing students to use their computer equipment especially during school hours,? said Ramos.

Ramos reminded Internet café operators that the ordinance provides stiff sanctions for violators. Repeat offenders, he said, could lose their licenses to operate.

He said the police have been focusing particularly on computer establishments located near schools that may be easily visited by students during school hours.

Police authorities in Marikina are also using the opportunity to monitor Internet cafés for any violation of anti-pornography laws.

Ramos urged the Internet cafés catering to students doing projects, homework and research, to block off pornographic websites.

"The Internet is widely used by students as a tool for research. But obscene and indecent materials are posted all over websites. Many of these establishments do not block pornographic websites and allow even elementary students to their premises,? added Ramos.

Apart from the keeping the city?s youth away from Internet establishments during school hours, Ramos said they intensified efforts to strictly implement the city?s curfew measures at night.

In line with another city ordinance, he said, minors aged 17 years old and below have been barred from loitering in the streets and other public spaces from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Ramos said they increased police visibility during curfew hours to deter minors from engaging in delinquent activities like gang wars and drinking sessions.