‘Safer Cities’ drive: 75,492 violators nabbed, so far

MANILA, Philippines — The number of local ordinance violators arrested under the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Safer Cities program has risen to 75,492 as of Monday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Tuesday.

The PNP, in a statement, said 7,235 violators were apprehended on Monday, April 13.

Consuming alcoholic drinks in public had 2,121 cases, followed by karaoke use beyond 10 p.m. (356), roaming shirtless / topless (176) and defying curfews for minors (66), while there were 4,516 cases of violations of other ordinances.

READ: DILG chief apologizes over ‘no shirt’ arrests amid backlash

Four thousand two hundred ten of the apprehended individuals were given a warning and released, while 2,884 were fined and 141 were criminally or civilly charged, according to the PNP.

The 7,235 violations recorded by the police on April 13 was lower than the 9,751 average daily violations recorded from April 6 to 12.

The DILG previously reported that it had recorded 68,257 violations from April 6 to 12, the first week of its “Safer Cities” program.

“Nakikita natin na mas nagiging aware na ang publiko. Pero tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang ating paalala. Sundin lang ito para iwas abala at para sa safety ng lahat,” PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in the statement.

(We see that the public is becoming more aware. But, our reminders continue. Just follow the law it to avoid complications and for the safety of all.)

The Safer Cities program was rolled out by the DILG last April 6 as part of a bid to combat crime in urban areas.

Following public backlash especially after a man in Mandaluyong City was fined last week for not wearing a shirt while mixing cement in front of his home, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the agency would review the program but insisted that it would still continue. /gsg