Looting, riots and chaos amid the continuous challenges due to more than a year of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in the country are impossible scenarios, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año assured on Saturday, October 2.
Compared to other nationalities, Año pointed out that the Filipimos are generally more law-abiding and good natured brushing off claims of public disarray, furor and lawlessness as observed in other countries during long periods of distressed situations.
“Hindi yan mangyayari sa atin (chaos in the country) dahil mas disiplinado tayo kesa sa ibang bansa na nagkakaroon ng looting and riot. At sumusunod sa batas ang mga Filipino (That will not happen to us because we are more disciplined than those in the other countries where there are lootings and riots. And Filipios obey the law),’’ Año said.
Año noted that the country’s crime volume has considerably gone down since the pandemic struck the country.
“Merong ilan ilan na criminals at nahuhuli naman natin sa tulong ng reporting ng mga concern citizens (There were a few criminals that were arrested through the reports of the concern citizens),’’ he added.
Año also urged citizens to be alert, watchful and report immediately to our police stations/community action centers and to 911 any crime to include suspicious persons in their vicinities: “I assure that the PNP will take fast and appropriate actions."
The DILG chief's reaction came at the heels where some expressed concern that disorder, mayhem and disruption of law and order are not far-fetched as the country continues its grind to make life more comfortable as much as possible with the surge of the virus.