SP bans wearing of face-coverings inside establishments

Any person wearing a bonnet, helmet or other face-coverings is prohibited from entering any public or private establishment in the city of Cagayan de Oro.

This developed after the City Council under Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez enacted an ordinance a few weeks ago for the purpose, and providing penalties for violators.

Police statistics show that perpetrators of crimes such as robberies and assassinations are wearing helmet, bonnet or similar face-coverings to hide their identities.

Under the ordinance, the management, owners or proprietors of public or private establishments are authorized at their discretion to require their clients, patrons or customers to remove their sunglasses, bull caps, fashion articles/adornments, face masks or other face-coverings before allowing them to enter their respective premises.

Any person found violating the provisions of the ordinance shall be penalized with a fine of P3,000 or imprisonment of not less than six months, or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court.

The pertinent provisions of the ordinance prescribing the issuance of Ordinance Violation Receipt (OVR) or Citation Ticket to violators or offenders of city ordinances, providing guidelines, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations shall apply in a suppletory manner.

This ordinance was authored by Councilor Edgar S. Cabanlas saying that the majority of all crimes are committed by people wearing helmets.