DAVAO CITY — Authorities have rounded up five minors and eight adults from Jolo who were found engaging in mendicancy on the streets of Toril district on Friday, October 4.
The operation followed complaints from a tricycle driver regarding their presence and the potential risks to public safety.
The group, which comprised nonresidents of Davao City, was asking for alms from pedestrians and motorists. Police intervened promptly, taking the individuals into custody and temporarily placing them under the care of the Quick Response Team at a designated center while arrangements were made for their return to Jolo.
Members of the Paginhawaan Drop-in Center for Children (PDICC) assisted the police during the operation.Davao City Police Office spokesperson Police Captain Hazel Tuzon reminded the public about the Anti-Mendicancy Law, or Presidential Decree 1563, which prohibits giving alms to street beggars. She explained, “The investigation revealed that these individuals traveled from Jolo, believing they could earn money here. This creates a reliance on begging, which they wrongly view as a legitimate source of income.”
Captain Tuzon stressed that under the Anti-Mendicancy Law, both givers and receivers of alms could face legal consequences, including fines up to one thousand pesos and possible imprisonment for up to four years. She urged the community to refrain from giving alms to help address the issue effectively.
