Some 34 parents were arrested on Thursday, July 16, after their children allegedly violated quarantine rules in Manila.

“The parents were arrested after Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno warned that their neglect of children is in violation of the [Manila] Anti-Child Endangerment Act,” the Manila City Public Information Office (PIO) said in a tweet.

Why were they arrested? The parents allegedly failed to keep their children at home while their areas were on lockdown, supposedly exposing them to the danger of the coronavirus.

The parents were arrested from barangays 50, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 61, 221, and 228.

“I will intervene as government to take care of our children or minors. That is the job of the government, to intervene,” Moreno said in a statement tweeted by the Manila PIO.

Why does this matter? The arrests came as Manila continues to use law enforcement as its strategy to deter the spread of the virus in its territory.

As of Monday, July 13, Manila City has confirmed a total of 3,407 COVID-19 cases, including 1,858 recoveries and 176 deaths. It is the city in the National Capital Region with the second highest number of cases, trailing only Quezon City, which has 4,646 cases as of Wednesday, July 15. – Rappler.com