Palace tells PNP: Use 'yantok' only for measuring physical distance
MANILA, Philippines — A recent order within the police force to use rattan sticks for individuals failing to follow health protocols against the coronavirus pandemic was shot down by Malacañang on Monday.
PNP's deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Cesar Binag had said that the yantok, as locally called, would be used by cops "to hit hardheaded individuals" ahead of the holidays as health officials brace for a possible surge in COVID-19 infections.
RELATED: Philippines on lookout for 'post-holiday' surge in COVID-19 cases
Even Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said he was against the directive, telling PNP to "do what the superior races do" that is, putting huge fines on supposed violators.
In today's briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the sticks could be used for measuring the required one meter physical distance, but not for those who fail to follow it.
"I think Secretary Locsin is right," he said. "You can't use that to hit someone because that is not allowed by the law or even within PNP's regulations."
President Rodrigo Duterte in the early stages of the outbreak in the country put the military and police in charge of carrying out coronavirus-related curbs, including manning borders and deploying personnel to areas to ensure that health standards continue to be followed with the country emerging from the months-long hard lockdown.
The human rights commission over the weekend warned authorities against using unnecessary force, with government long facing the criticism that it has militarized its response to a public health crisis.
PNP had since scrambled to deny that there was such as order, including that it was its chief, Police Gen. Debold Sinas, himself figuring in a quarantine violation in May, who issued it.
A spokesperson for the police told Pilipino Star Ngayon that "there is no intention to use [rattan sticks] to intimidate or hit."
"In fact, the use of yantok for COVID-19 is to avoid touching and to maintain distancing [between] individuals," said Police Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana.
The health department has said that it was alarmed over photos of huge crowds in commercial centers, such as the well-known Divisoria in Manila.
Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told the public that the "risk is still high" in flocking to the said areas despite wearing face mask and shield, along with following the one meter distance.
Coronavirus infections in the Philippines stood at 441,399 on December 7, and it has remained as the second highest in Southeast Asia.
The pandemic has taken the lives of 8,572 Filipinos at home and 847 overseas, while recoveries are now at 408,702.
Metro Manila and other areas in the NCR Plus bubble go into the more relaxed Modified ECQ starting April 12. MECQ has more restrictions than the general community quarantine. Bookmark this page for updates. Photo by The STAR/Michael Varcas
The Department of Health registers an additional 20,741 new COVID-19 infections, the second highest daily increase since the pandemic started.
- Active cases: 157,646 or 7.6% of the total
- Recoveries: 21,962 or, bringing total to 1,869,376
- Deaths: 189, raising toll to 34,062
The Philippines logs a new record high of 22,366 new COVID-19 infections, pushing the total to 1,976,202.
- Recoveries: 16,864 new; 1,797,278 total
- Deaths: 222 new; 33,330 total
- Active cases: 148,594 or 7.5% of total
Ngayong 4 PM, Agosto 30, 2021, ang Department of Health ay nakapagtala ng 22,366 na karagdagang kaso ng COVID-19. Samantala ay mayroon namang naitalang 16,864 na gumaling at 222 na pumanaw.
— Department of Health (@DOHgovph) August 30, 2021
Sa kabuuang bilang ng mga naitalang kaso sa bansa, 7.5% (148,594) ang aktibong kaso, pic.twitter.com/K3z9qxTqHu
The Department of Health logs 17,447 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the national tally to 1,916,461.
- Active cases: 142,531 or 7.4% of the total
- Recoveries: 6,771, bringing the number to 1,741,089
- Deaths: 113, or now 32,841 in total
The Philippines records a new record high of 18,332 COVID-19 cases, the highest single daily rise since the pandemic started. Coronavirus tally in the country is now at 1,857,646.
- Recoveries: 13,794 new; 1,695,335 total
- Deaths: 151 new; 31,961 total
- Active cases: 130,350 or 7% of total
Ngayong 4 PM, Agosto 23, 2021, ang Department of Health ay nakapagtala ng 18,332 na karagdagang kaso ng COVID-19. Samantala ay mayroon namang naitalang 13,794 na gumaling at 151 na pumanaw.
— Department of Health (@DOHgovph) August 23, 2021
Sa kabuuang bilang ng mga naitalang kaso sa bansa, 7.0% (130,350) ang aktibong kaso, pic.twitter.com/JPIDDFWz0Z
The Department of Health logs 16,694 more COVID-19 infections, bringing the national tally to 1,824,051.
- Active cases: 123,935 or 6.8% of the total
- Recoveries: 15,805, pushing total to 1,668,520
- Deaths: 398, bringing total to 31,596
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