Eleazar reminds cops: Stick to arrest rules during ECQ
POLICE officers and men have been reminded to strictly follow the guidelines and procedures in arresting quarantine and health protocol violators once they offer resistance and ignore orders from authorities in NCR Plus
Philippine National Police chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar issued the reminder after Department of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra called on law enforcers to observe the protocols when making apprehensions, especially in areas placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine.
Gen. Eleazar assured the public that police personnel will always abide by the rule of law in arresting or apprehending violators.
“Sinisiguro kong susundin ng ating kapulisan ang mga nakasaad sa guidelines na pinirmahan ng DOJ at DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) tungkol sa pag-handle ng mga insidente ng health protocol violations,” he said.
The PNP chief said generally, police are under instruction to just caution 1st-time violators of quarantine protocols which include the mandatory wearing of face masks and face shields and physical distancing as well as the 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew in Metro Manila from August 6 to Aug. 20.
“Mahigpit din susundin ng kapulisan ang nakasaad sa mga ordinansa,” he said.
In June, the DOJ and the DILG signed the internal guidelines for law enforcers and government agencies in handling health protocol violations amid the community quarantine.
The joint memorandum circular made clear the roles of concerned government agencies in managing these cases.
“Agad pananagutin ng PNP ang mga pulis na magmamalabis o aabuso sa pagpapatupad ng guidelines. Mahalaga na pairalin ng ating kapulisan ang maximum tolerance at courtesy sa pagsita sa mga quarantine violators,” Gen. Eleazar said.
“Ang patuloy naman na pakiusap natin sa publiko ay ang kanilang pang-unawa sa aming tungkuling ipatupad ang batas. Magtulungan tayong pigilan ang pagdami ng kaso ng COVID-19,” he added.
