Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Navotas City government on Wednesday warned residents that those who will be caught violating the enhanced community quarantine will spend the rest of the period in jail as the city strictly implements measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“Wala po tayong choice. Ilang beses na tayong nakiusap at nagbabala pero di sila nakinig. Pinoproteksyunan lang po natin ang ating mga kababayang ayaw mahawa sa COVID-19. Dahil ayaw nilang sumunod, sa kulungan na lang sila mag-quarantine,” Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco wrote on a Facebook post.
(We have no choice. We have warned them so many times but they are not listening. We are just protecting them from being infected by the coronavirus disease. Well since they cannot follow, they will be quarantined inside the jail.)
Citing data from the Navotas Facebook page, Tiangco said 55 individuals were arrested on Wednesday for defying strict home quarantine, bringing the total number of apprehended individuals to 269.
Navotas Public Information Officer Irish Cubillan said in a text message that most of the arrested citizens were caught loitering the streets without quarantine passes.
Cubillan said arrested persons will face charges for violation of Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code or resistance and disobedience to a person in authority, which imposes a penalty of P500 and arresto mayor (one month and one day to six months jail time).
As of Tuesday, Navotas recorded zero cases of COVID-19, 101 persons under investigation and 10 persons under monitoring.