Journalist and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) survivor Howie Severino was apprehended Wednesday by Quezon City law enforcers for improper use of face mask when he failed to cover his nose and mouth after drinking water.
In a Facebook post, Severino said,"had been biking this morning with two bambike buddies, Chris Linag and Jilson Tiu, in Quezon City for about an hour when stopped at a bike shop on Mother Ignacia."
He said, "they were all wearing masks" until they "bought drinks at the store next door and drank them after pulling down masks below the mouth."
"I had just finished my drink and returned the bottle to the store before I could pull my mask back up, when at least two vehicles of QC law enforcers arrived to tell me I was talking without my mask covering my mouth," he said.
He was then brought to Amoranto Sports Complex.
"I explained to a group of QC employees there that as a recovered patient who had already tested negative three times for the coronavirus and positive for antibodies since my discharge from the hospital, the risk of me infecting anyone is near zero. Nevertheless I still wear a mask," he said.
Severino said that he offered himself to give a talk at the seminar but authorities instead returned his bike and allowed him to leave.
Interviewed by Manila Bulletin, Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) head Elmo San Diego said Severino was apprehended when his men saw he was the only one in his group who was not wearing face mask.
"Kasi apat sila eh, apat sila na magkakasama, sya lang walang mask ," San Diego said. "Hindi nya hawak ... Nandoon sa lalagyan nya sa bisikleta. Ibig sabihin, nakainom na, binaba nya, itataas na nya . So noong dumaan yung tao namin, syempre nakita na walang mask... sisitahin sya [He was not holding his drink. It was on his bike. So, probably, he already finished drinking and when he was about to put his mask, our officers passed and approached him, " San Diego added.
"Kailangan ng validation eh... Noong malaman ng mga tao namin na talagang galing bisikleta, uminom ng tubig, ," San Diego said.
On Wednesday, the Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety and the Quezon City Police District held a "One Time Big Time" operation against violators of minimum health standards imposed by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease in relation to the existing city ordinances.
San Diego said, at least 617 individuals have already been turned over to their custody for inquest proceedings. But he assured the public that the violation only carries a fine and filing of the case. No one would be detained.
"Pag hindi kinontest (yung apprehension), magbabayad ng P1,000. Pero kung kinontest, paguusapan pa rin. Magpapaliwanag sila. Bale kung di naman valid yung paliwanag nila, itutuloy yung kaso noon. Magpepenalty sila (If violators would not contest their arrest, they would have to pay a P1,000 fine. But if they contest it, they have to explain why. If their explanation is insufficient, the complaint against them would proceed. They would be penalized)," he added.