A 26-year-old man who was looking for work died after two village watchmen allegedly beat him up for curfew violation.
Ernanie Lumban Jimenez, a native of Guinayangan, Quezon, died on Friday (April 9) at the Calamba Medical Center Hospital two days after he was allegedly beaten up by two village watchmen of Barangay Turbina.
A police report said that Jimenez collapsed after he sustained injuries from the incident involving the two village watchmen at 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday (April 7).
Police are now hunting down the village watchmen, identified as Arjay Abierta and Joel Ortiz.
In a report from ABS-CBN News, Jimenez was accosted for violating the curfew imposed during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
According to Lt. Col. Chitadel Gaoiran, Jimenez was looking for work on Wednesday (April 7).
Jimenez tried to flee when he was brought to the village hall to urinate, according to the representatives of Barangay Turbina.
"Sa side nung barangay, sinabing nagkahabulan sila dahil umano nagtangkang tumakas ito. Sa pagkahabulan ay nadapa o natapilok ang tao kaya po siya ay natumba at nabagok ang ulo (On the barangay's side, they said that they chased the victim because he allegedly tried to flee. During the chase, the stumbled or tripped, so he fell and hit his head)," Gaoiran said in an interview with DZMM Teleradyo.
However, according to a relative, Jimenez was beaten by village watchmen which caused him to fall and hit his head.
"Sa side ng victim, ito ay minaltrato at binugbog kaya 'yun po ang sanhi na siya ay natumba at nabagok ang ulo (On the victim's side, he was maltreated and beaten that's why he fell and hit his head)," Gaoiran said in a report from ABS-CBN News.
Authorities are still waiting for the victim's death certificate and the result of his autopsy.
Jimenez' remains will be buried in his hometown Guinayangan, Quezon this week.
Gaoiran said that curfew violators are usually sent home after being issued violation tickets or receiving warning from the authorities.
"Of course, maximum tolerance po tayo at depende po kasi sa bawat bayan at city na pinapatupad na ordinansa (Of course we exercise maximum tolerance and it depends on each town and city where the ordinance is being implemented)," he said.
He added: "Hanggat sa maaari, hindi kami magkukulong unless may talagang compelling reason para gawin ito (As much as possible we will not put them to jail unless there is a really compelling reason to do so)."
On March 27, a uniform curfew from 6:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. was imposed after Malacañang placed the National Capital Region and the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, and Rizal under ECQ.