Pokemon GO has managed to take the world by storm since its release over a month ago and has been making headlines ever since, be it good or bad. The augmented reality game was released in Southeast Asia a couple of weeks back, including in the Philippines, one of the largest Southeast Asian countries. While millions of Pokemon trainers have been engrossed in the game, that might change for some Pokemon trainers in the Philippines, especially if you live in Olongapo City. Mayor Rolen Paulino of Olongapo City has stated that students caught playing Pokemon GO on the streets will be arrested.
Paulino warns students that if they are caught playing Pokemon GO, they will be arrested and sent to a youth development center for a week. This comes after classes have been suspended in the city due to bad weather. The mayor stated that school authorities cancelled classes during the typhoon which has hit the city so that students would be safe from harm, and students should be using that time at home to study instead of catching Pokemon in the streets, which might also put them in danger. Paulino went on to say that holidays for students should be reduced since classes are being suspended frequently in light of the typhoon.
In Quezon City, a city councilor has filed an appeal to Niantic, the developer of Pokemon GO, to avoid government offices, venues of education and churches from being made into Pokestops. Pokemon trainers may go to a Pokestop and receive Pokeballs and other game essentials to play the game. Councillor Allan Butch Francisco has mentioned that ever since Pokemon GO was released in the country, thousands of people have been going outdoors and roaming around public and private places in a bid to catch Pokemon. Francisco then went on to say that the game should not be played at certain locations for reasons of public safety, and the game should not be played in government offices and in schools as it will distract workers and students, leading to a drop in productivity. According to Francisco, some Pokemon GO players have gone to the extent of invading churches in a bid to catch Pokemon.