DAVAO CITY, Philippines—When in Davao City do not leave your bags in public places unattended or run the risk of getting penalized.
This is the new law here, as the City Council Tuesday approved an ordinance which prohibits any individual from leaving unattended bags in public places that will cause public alarm and panic.
If the attended bags or packages cause panic, alarm and nuisance, the owners will be fined PHP1,000 on first offense, PHP3,000 on second offense and PHP5,000 on third offense plus one month imprisonment.
The ordinance specifically defines panic– which means the SWAT team and bomb disposal unit have arrived in the area.
If bags or packages do not cause panic owners will be warned on first offense, PHP100 fine on second offense and PHP300 on third offense.
In Singapore, individuals who purposely leaves their bags unattended, the owner run the risk of getting arrested.
Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte said the Ordinance is one of the security measures adopted by the city.
Duterte noted that the Public Safety and Security Command Center receives dozens of call daily concerning unattended bags in public places.
Councilor Bernie Al-Ag, the Majority Floor Leader said the ordinance clearly prohibits “1. Any person who carries, lay down an unattended bag in a public place and walks away from the same even without causing alarm and panic and; 2. Any person who carries, lay down an unattended bag in a public place and walks away, and such act causes alarm and panic.”
The ordinances authorizes law enforces to confiscate and turn over to the police or the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) all unattended bags and the same shall be disposed after it remain unclaimed over seven days.
Councilor Jimmy Dureza said unattended baggage if remained unclaimed must be destroyed by proper authorities.
The Ordinance takes effect 15 days after it’s publication in local newspaper of general circulation. -Editha Z. Caduaya/Newsline.ph
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