PNP to apprehend uncooperative people

MANILA, Philippines — As Metro Manila braces for “community quarantine” that some fear is a lockdown, police have warned uncooperative or unruly individuals of arrest and possible prosecution for criminal offense.

“Those who violate the guidelines will be arrested. If the guidelines have already been passed, those who violate will be arrested. And cases will be filed against them, once they violate established procedures,” National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas said at a briefing yesterday, referring to guidelines being threshed out to ensure smooth implementation of the community quarantine, which takes effect tomorrow until April 14.

Part of the measure is the establishment of checkpoints along major thoroughfares going in and out of Metro Manila.  Violators could face charges for resistance and serious disobedience to a person in authority, and other laws.

Persons under investigation (PUIs) and patients who tested positive for COVID-19 who resist quarantine or apprehension may also face charges.

As in the case of patients from San Juan City who tried to escape from confinement, infected individuals who defy the month-long community quarantine would be charged for violation of RA 11332 or the “Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.”

Under the law, persons identified as having “notifiable diseases” or affected by serious health situation could face charges for non-cooperation with authorities if they hide their condition or refuse to be treated accordingly.

Penalties include a fine of no less than P20,000 to P50,000, or imprisonment of one to six months.

Sinas said members of the regional mobile force battalion who would man the checkpoints would have necessary protective gear. All police vehicles will also be sanitized and disinfected before and after each operation.

Police have already identified the areas where checkpoints would be set up, but declined to reveal them.

PNP acting spokesman Maj. Gen. Benigno Durana Jr. said they have already started pre-positioning assets, equipment and personnel for the checkpoints, as part of “extraordinary measures” against COVID-19.

“This time not to prevent crime, but to prevent movement and the spread of the virus,” he said.

He said over radio dzBB that local government units, especially barangays, will have a big role to play in ensuring the success of the community quarantine.

The PNP has placed five of its regional offices on full alert, including Metro Manila and the surrounding regions, following the declaration placing Metro Manila under community quarantine.

Police regional offices in the National Capital Region and Regions III, 4A, 4B and V were placed under full alert status starting 1 a.m. yesterday following the declaration of Code Red Sublevel-2 due to COVID-19.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Felimon Santos Jr., meanwhile, said the military has enough personnel to assist the PNP.

“The AFP is ready to assist the Philippine National Police in implementing the community quarantine in certain areas in line with the government’s efforts to contain and prevent the further spread of COVID-19,” he said.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana emphasized that the military would not be involved in the drafting of the guidelines for the enforcement of the community quarantine.

Ranking lawmakers have expressed support for community quarantine.

“I support the efforts of the government in containing COVID 19, including this latest measure. The government’s main duty is to ensure the safety and well-being of the Filipino people,” House committee on Metro Manila development chairman Manny Lopez told The STAR.

But the representative of Tondo, Manila stressed that for such measure to succeed, “public cooperation and full compliance would be necessary.”

“The economic cost of COVID-19, if it becomes viral, is far greater than the cost of self-imposed lockdown. It is more damaging for the economy if there will be mass transmission,” Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said.

Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero said there is no need to resort to panic buying as he called for calm and sobriety among Metro Manila residents.

“Let us not resort to bulk buying, especially of face masks, hand sanitizers and other products that will protect us from coronavirus disease or COVID-19. Hoarding will only deprive others of the things they need to shield themselves from this disease,” he appealed in a statement yesterday. –   With Michael Punongbayan, Edu Punay