THE DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) is ramping up the enforcement of the local decency ordinance, issuing citations to nearly 700 individuals for being half-naked in public in just a single week.
Data released by the DCPO showed that from April 12 to 18, exactly 696 individuals were flagged for violating the city’s ordinance against appearing half-naked in public spaces.
During the Davao Peace and Security press briefing at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, DCPO spokesperson Captain Hazel Caballero clarified that the enforcement is a long-standing policy, although many violations occur after dark and in residential outskirts.
“This is not a new implementation. We see these violations in public places, especially in plazas near residential areas, and mostly during the evening,” Caballero told reporters on Wednesday, April 21, 2026.
Since Jan. 1, 2026, the DCPO has recorded 5,075 violations for being half-naked in public, making it one of the most frequently violated ordinances in the city after traffic and curfew regulations.
While the numbers are high, Caballero noted that officers do exercise a level of discretion. She explained that while there is “consideration” for those caught just outside their doorsteps, the law is strictly applied once a person enters a designated public space.
The “half-naked” citations were part of a wider push by the DCPO to enforce city ordinances during the same seven-day period.
According to the DCPO’s weekly accomplishment report, other major enforcement actions included:
- Traffic Code Violations: 2,634 citations
- Curfew on Minors: 354 individuals apprehended
- Anti-Smoking Ordinance: 245 violators caught
- Speed Limit Ordinance: 146 drivers cited
