Woman held for defying checkpoint in Caloocan

MANILA, Philippines — A woman was arrested in Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City on Thursday morning for allegedly trying to defy a checkpoint set up to enforce the enhanced community quarantine.

Mickaela Manzon was charged with resistance and disobedience to a person in authority, alarm and scandal, unjust vexation and violation of the Bayanihan Heal as One Act.

A video posted by a policeman showed Manzon trying to pass the checkpoint in Barangay 156 at around 10 a.m. The video has gone viral on social media.

Police officers told the woman she was not allowed past the checkpoint because she wore no face mask, had no quarantine pass and the area was under “hard lockdown.”

Manzon cursed at the police officers and tried to walk past them, telling them she will only deliver her bag to someone not far from the area.

The police officers arrested her when she continued to verbally abuse them.

“We cannot tolerate people from doing this because we are just doing our duty. The video will show that the police tried to be as calm as possible but Manzon pushed her luck too far,” Col. Dario Menor, city police chief, told The STAR.

Meanwhile, Mayor Oscar Malapitan said he ordered the hard lockdown in Barangay 156 extended by four more days after 20 residents tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

He added that they are also looking into imposing a hard lockdown on another barangay after receiving reports of residents contracting COVID-19.

Malapitan said they are planning to bring the patients to a newly installed quarantine facility in Bagumbong.