The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department the Interior and Local Government (DILG) are set to sign and issue on Friday, May 28, the guidelines on the arrest, detention, and investigation of persons who are caught not wearing or improperly wearing face masks.
Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said the DOJ has finished the draft guidelines and has submitted them to DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Ano.
“I have just been informed that DILG Sec. Ano has agreed in principle to approve the joint guidelines on arrest, detention, and investigation of health protocol violators as drafted by the DOJ,” Guevarra said.
He said the draft guidelines will be subjected to “a few minor tweaks.”
Last April, President Duterte ordered the arrest, detention, and investigation of persons who are found not wearing or improperly wearing face masks – violations of health protocols aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Guevarra said the President directed the DOJ and the DILG to draft rules for law enforcement agents on how to pursue the directive.
He said that among the issues the guidelines seek to address include “the manner, time or place of booking, detention, and investigation para maiwasan ang (to avoid the) overcrowding and avoid the very evil sought to be prevented.”
“The President’s directive is part of the government’s strategy of strictly implementing health protocols, such as wearing of face masks, so that the spread of the disease is put under control and the full opening of the economy is accelerated,” he explained.