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PARENTS of young Christmas carolers who solicit donations in the streets of Cebu City should beware.
The Cebu City police warned that charges would be filed against the parents, relatives or guardians if they let their minor wards go caroling on public and private utility vehicles that ply the city's main streets exposing them to danger.
Supt. Paul Labra II confirmed observations that children younger than 12 years old go caroling on the streets because they are prodded by their families or other groups.
Labra, city police deputy director for operations, said that a mother and an aunt were already arrested but the police later let them go with a warning since it was their first offense.
He said the police is cordinating with Department of Social Welfare and Development to stop minors from caroling for donations on the street.
Mobile patrols have also been instructed to stop children they see during their rounds.
The e police intelligence section was ordered to check whether these children were being manipulated by some groups.
Labra said police got feedback that kid carolers have been seen aproaching vehicles on General Maxilom Avenue and corners of Echavez Street and M.J. Cuenco Avenue.
Sometimes the kids smack vehicles with the cans or articles they are holding when a motorist ignores them.
“The complaint is that they force you to pay for the song they sing,” Labra said in Cebuano. /Correspondent Chris Ligan
