President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the police to arrest and detain people who violate government rules on wearing masks and social distancing, as COVID-19 cases in the country continue to surge.
“A simple violation of not wearing mask seems trivial, but during times of health issues, it can be a serious crime,” Duterte said Monday night.
However, Palace spokesman Harry Roque, during his regular press briefing, said the government will set guidelines for arresting face masks violators subject to “fair and humane penalties or punishments that may be imposed by LGUs or implemented by law enforcement agencies.”
The President, who tapped the police and military to implement health protocols during the pandemic, said he is not worried about arresting violators in view of the pandemic.
“We don’t have any qualms [about] arresting people,” he said.
The President also appealed to the public to show a little patience and
make some sacrifices by following the health measures, as the world awaits for the vaccine.
Meanwhile, Roque said an employee of the Palace communications office was tested positive for COVID 19 but said the Palace will continue to do its job.
Duterte’s spokesman’s regular press briefing was held outside the Palace to give way for disinfection of the New Executive Building (NEB) and contact tracing as well as swab testing among frontline personnel of the Presidential Communications Operations Office.
The NEB also houses the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson, the press briefing room, the Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office.
After a London-based group found that most Filipinos observe health protocols amid the coronavirus pandemic, the DOH on Monday said its goal is still to achieve 100-percent compliance from the public.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire made the statement after a study showed that 91 percent of Filipinos wear masks when they go out and 83 percent regularly wash their hands with soap and water.
The Joint Task Force COVID Shield, meanwhile, said 230,000 were accosted for quarantine violations from march 17 to July 19.
Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said 72,000 of them were arrested, but only 18,000 were actually detained.