Photo courtesy of Mary Judaline F. Partlow/PNA
Authorities in Negros Oriental penalized and warned hundreds of residents for various local ordinance violations as part of an intensified public safety campaign, police said Monday.
The Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office reported that 678 individuals were cited across six cities and 19 municipalities from April 10 to 12.
Police said the enforcement stemmed from directives linked to the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s safer cities initiative covering public order measures.
Violations included traffic-related offenses, public drinking and smoking, curfew breaches involving minors, and other local regulatory infractions.
Officials said 53 individuals were recorded for drinking and smoking in public areas, while 34 minors were apprehended for violating curfew rules.
Police clarified that minors were not detained and were instead either released to their parents or instructed to return home after being warned.
Local police units have been coordinating with local government officials to strengthen the implementation of ordinances aligned with national guidelines.
Authorities said they are reviewing existing city and municipal regulations to improve compliance and reinforce community safety measures across the province.
