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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Sotto backs Duterte order to detain people violating face mask regulation

Sotto backs Duterte order to detain people violating face mask regulation

Published May 6, 2021 03:40 pm

Senate President Vicente Sotto III is agreeing that persons who wear their face masks improperly or are not wearing any at all should be arrested and detained.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III (Senate of the Philippines)

President Duterte issued the order to police Wednesday, May 5, as he stressed the need to protect the public from contracting the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Reiterating his call for a strong-arm approach to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sotto said such move will help ensure compliance to minimum health protocols and control the spread of the disease.

"Okay lang 'yon para sumunod talaga tayo, matakot kang makulong ng siyam na oras (That's okay, so that people will really follow, they will be afraid to be detained for nine hours)," Sotto said in an online press conference.

"Kung minsan, may mga bagay, merong mga isyu at may mga bagay na dapat eh strong-arm ang dating eh. Siguro ganon. Ang daming matigas ang ulo, eh (There are things and issues that sometimes require a strong-arm approach)," he added.

The Senate chief also compared the Philippines' COVID-19 situation to other countries that have managed to control the pandemic.

"Bakit ang bilis nawala ng problema ng VIetnam? Bakit ang bilis nawala ng problema ng Singapore? At saka ng...Israel, ang bilis, bakit (Why was Vietnam able to solve the problem quickly? Singapore? And Israel? Why?)," he asked.

"Eh kasi mahigpit ang otoridad, eh (Because authorities are strict)," he said.

On concerns of human rights violations, Sotto said: "Kaya tayo nagkakaganyan, dahil mga ganyang mga kadahilan, kaya tayo nagpapabayaan. Lahat na may palusot, eh (We become complacent because of those reason. We always have an excuse for everything)."

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