53,293 ordinance violators nabbed in Metro Manila

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April 12, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — There were 53,293 people rounded up in Metro Manila for ordinance violations under the Safer Cities initiative, the Philippine National Police reported yesterday.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said 9,810 violators were apprehended on Friday.

Of the figure, 2,857 were apprehended for drinking and smoking in public places, 886 for roaming the streets shirtless and 802 for violating curfew hours.

Nartatez said 220 people were cited for late-night karaoke singing and 5,045 others for violation of other ordinances.

He added that 4,011 people were fined, 91 were charged in court and 5,708 were released after being given a verbal warning.

Nartatez said the number of arrests is a reflection of the continuing impact of visible and consistent enforcement of laws on public behavior.

He reminded the public to “always follow local ordinance to avoid penalties and inconvenience.”

But the activist group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan criticized the initiative, saying the “Gestapo-like” police operations are meant to normalize state terror and deter people from protesting President Marcos’ failure to curb corruption and address the oil crisis.

Raymond Palatino, Bayan secretary general, said the Marcos administration chose to inflict more suffering on the people by terrorizing urban poor communities, instead of regulating prices and removing regressive taxes.

“The draconian actions expose (the government’s) paranoia over rising social discontent amid worsening poverty, corruption and energy emergency,” Palatino said in a statement.

In a similar move, the youth group Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan said the Safer Cities initiative is “detached from the realities faced by ordinary Filipinos.”

“The Palace is miserably out of touch. They speak as if all people live under the same conditions, as if curfew and restrictions weigh equally on everyone,” the group said.

The group argued that while the rules may appear neutral, their impact differs across sectors.

Meanwhile, the San Juan city government has begun a stricter enforcement of public order ordinances, imposing tighter rules on drinking in public, curfew for minors and noise control.

Mayor Francis Zamora said the measures, which took effect on April 6, aim to strengthen peace and order, safety and discipline in the city.

Under the policy, drinking alcoholic beverages in public places such as streets, sidewalks, parks, playgrounds and basketball courts is prohibited, unless authorized by the city government during large events such as festivals.

Violators face a P1,000 fine for the first offense, while repeat offenders may face both fine and up to 60 days of jail time.

Zamora said the measures are part of a broader effort to align with the directive of the Department of the Interior and Local Government to make urban areas safer. — Mark Ernest Villeza