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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Public to DILG: Ensure PNP won't resort to 'violent acts' when enforcing quarantine rules

Public to DILG: Ensure PNP won't resort to 'violent acts' when enforcing quarantine rules

Published Mar 12, 2021 04:23 pm

With the Philippine National Police (PNP) going after quarantine violators to prevent the further surge of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, concerned citizens asked the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Friday, March 12, to ensure that human rights are respected even with the strict enforcement of the minimum health standards.

​​​Businessman Cesar Santos, of Marilao, Bulacan, expressed alarm over the possibility of “unruly policemen’’ using “extreme force’’ against quarantine violators.

"I personally witnessed a police officer slapping a young man for breaking the curfew hour regulations in our barangay during the early months of the implementation of the quarantine protocols. This should not be the case. It is very basic that the punishment should be commensurate with the violation," Santos said in Filipino.

The following day, Santos said he saw the young man and convinced him to file charges against the policeman but his advice was turned down “kasi baka daw masaktan pa siya” (he might be harmed).

"Some rogue policemen are taking advantage of the erroneous belief of ordinary people that they can't do anything even if they get hurt physically by the people who are supposed to protect them," he added.

Meanwhile, store owner Scot Reyes, of Quezon City, also recounted how several police officers supposedly barged inside their home and arrested him along with several relatives during the lockdown.

He said his relatives were only on vacation and they were just playing card games when they were supposedly arrested for violating COVID-19 protocols.

He admitted of being cowed with fear as the policemen brought them to the station and had them in jail.

“We were inside our house but the police still arrested and filed charges against us. We are not criminals. It was just a simple bonding time among family members since we were all experiencing COVID-19 fatigue,’’ Reyes explained.

He admitted that the harrowing experience of getting jailed with his female relatives remains a bitter memory that should not have happened since "we are law-abiding citizens."

When pressed if he filed charges against the arresting policemen, Reyes asked: “Para ano pa?" (What for)?

“It is a reality that people with strong connections are given special treatment. Unfortunately we are not one of them. So it is just better for us to keep quiet and go on with our peaceful lives,’’ Reyes noted.

However, Reyes pointed out that quarantine regulation violators should be disciplined and penalized but the punishment should be commensurate to their offense.

​​​​​​Santos and Reyes' concerns came just as the national government instructed the police to intensify the enforcement of COVID-19 safety protocols due to the rising number of active cases in parts of the country.

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