Over 3,000 protocol violators held in Quezon City, Caloocan

QUEZON CITY, Philippines — More than 3,000 persons have been apprehended and fined in Quezon City and Caloocan since Wednesday for violating minimum health protocols.

In Quezon City, Elmo San Diego, who heads the city’s department of public order and safety, said at least 1,740 violators were accosted yesterday during law enforcement operations covering all 142 barangays in the city.

The most common violation is the improper wearing of face masks, followed by failing to wear face shields and not observing physical distancing.

The violators were brought to the Quezon Memorial Circle, where they were fined ranging P300 to P500 and lectured on the importance of complying with minimum health standards.

Local government units in Metro Manila have intensified the strict enforcement of minium health protocols following a surge in COVID-19 cases in the region.

The local police have accosted 1,285 residents since Wednesday, most for violating the curfew, as Caloocan experiences a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Some of the violators were caught drinking liquor outside their homes or failing to wear face masks while in front of stores, the city government said.

The violators were brought to barangay courts and police precincts, where they were given citation tickets and face masks for those not wearing one.

In Caloocan, the fine for violating curfew is P1,000 for the first offense and P3,000 and P5,000 for subsequent offenses. Those who fail to wear face masks are fined P1,000 for the first offense and P5,000 for subsequent offenses.

The city government on Monday announced it would reinstate the rule requiring residents to present quarantine passes when going to market, Mayor Oscar Malapitan said.

The Metro Manila Council, composed of mayors of Metro Manila’s 16 cities and one town, on Thursday night agreed to unify its curfew ordinances, setting the curfew period from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

As of Thursday, there are 520 active cases in Caloocan, with Barangay 171 having the most number of active cases at 47. The city government said 76, out of Caloocan’s 188 barangays have no active case.

The city has recorded a total of 15,216 confirmed cases, with 14,208 recoveries and 488 deaths. – Ghio Ong