The Pasay City police intensified their efforts in arresting violators of the curfew hours and the basic health protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In a report, Pasay City police chief Col. Cesar Paday-os told Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano that they have already arrested 448 curfew violators since March 12 or in less than three days.
Paday-os noted that most of those arrested claimed that they merely went out of their houses to buy something while others said they did not know that new and earlier curfew hours are being observed.
“Marami pa rin po ang nagpapalusot. Kahit alam na nila na may bagong curfew na pinatutupad ay talagang lumalabas pa rin sila ng bahay para gumala kahit walang importanteng dahilan,” (Most of them are giving us alibis claiming that they don’t know that there is a new curfew hour being implemented), Paday-os said.
Rubiano issued an executive order on March 11 adjusting the curfew hour in the city from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m effective March 12 until the duration of the general community quarantine, pursuant to and in compliance with the Metro Manila Council decision seeking to stop the spread of the virus.
The city council on March 15 came out with an ordinance imposing the curfew hour in the city from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
The mayor said there is an urgent need to strictly impose the curfew to discourage people from going out and minimize the risk of contracting the disease.
“Nakikiusap po ako sa ating mga minamahal na kababayan na sumunod tayo sa sa mga patakarang pinaiiral upang mapigilan na ang pagkalat ng sakit na ito na matagal ng nagpapahirap sa atin (I am appealing to the city residents to follow the guidelines to prevent the spread of the disease)," Rubiano said.
Rubiano said those who will be arrested for violating the curfew hours for the first time will be recorded in the blotters of the barangay where they were apprehended.
For the second offense, they will be fined P3,000. For the third offense, they will be fined P5,000.
All those arrested will be issued citation tickets by the Office of the City Treasurer and must pay the fine within 24 hours.