Youth group welcomes SC TRO on curfew, calls for continued vigilance

Press Release
July 27, 2016

QUEZON CITY – The political youth group Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) hailed the speedy issuance of a temporary restraining order by the Supreme Court on their petition seeking the cessation of the implementation of the curfew ordinances of the cities of Manila, Quezon and Navotas.

“We view the intervention of the High Court as an initial victory since it deemed the controversy over the implementation of Oplan Rody an urgent matter for judicial review since it involves the rights of the minors as we have stipulated in our petition,” said Joanne Lim, spokesperson of SPARK.

The group called the curfew ordinances “unconstitutional” for it counters present laws as well as it infringes the constitutional rights of parents in the rearing of their children.

She also added that, “despite the TRO, we believe that the battle, however, is far from over. There is so much to be done in advancing the rights and welfare of the youth. Besides the curfews, SPARK is also adamantly opposed to maneuvers to lower the age of criminal liability as well as the continued intrusion of the private sector in state universities and colleges.

Lim called on the youth to remain vigilant and maintain active participation in monitoring and reporting cases of abuse by persons of authority especially in the cities and municipalities not covered in the Supreme Court’s TRO.

“We are encouraging everyone not only students but even their parents to directly get in touch with us through social media so that we may assist them in whatever way possible. If there are still any human rights violated through these curfews, we must take the necessary legal actions till abuses and victim-blaming is totally eradicated”.