Manila mayor issues new ordinance on curfew hours

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso signed on Wednesday a new ordinance imposing curfew hours depending on the quarantine classification.

Under Ordinance No. 8658, curfew hours during modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) and enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) are from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Should the city be placed under the more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ), curfew hours will be from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., shorter by two hours. The new measure, which amends two previous ordinances on curfew hours, was enacted on Wednesday.

“There is a need to make the curfew ordinance flexible in the continuing changing situation of the City of Manila and the National Capital Region,” the ordinance reads.

A new set of guidelines on the apprehension of quarantine violators was also included in the new ordinance.

The apprehending official will immediately notify the relatives of the violator, who will be released, with the understanding that he or she will report to the village chief for the corresponding penalty.

Holding facility

If the violator is not a resident of the village where he or she was apprehended, “th[is] offender shall be held in the holding facility of the barangay where the apprehension was made for not more than 24 hours.” If the offender’s family is not available to facilitate his or her release, he or she will be turned over to the Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW) office. A homeless person rounded up for curfew violation will also be turned over to the MDSW 24 hours after apprehension.