MANILA, Philippines — All Navotas City residents caught violating the guidelines imposed by the national government while Luzon is under a monthlong lockdown will be arrested by the police and placed behind bars.
They will be released only after posting bail of P3,500.
Mayor Toby Tiangco issued the warning on Sunday after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) rescinded its previous order asking local government units (LGUs) to record their names for the appropriate filing of charges instead of jailing them.
Under Tiangco’s Executive Order No. TMT-022, violators of the imposed guidelines, particularly the 24-hour curfew in Navotas, may face up to six months imprisonment on top of a fine ranging from P2,000 to P100,000.
On Sunday, the DILG allowed LGUs to arrest noncompliant residents after Tiangco pointed out that their freedom “might encourage them not to follow the law and stay out on the streets.”As of Sunday, there were 408 adults arrested for violating the executive order.
Navotas also recorded its first death related to the new coronavirus disease, a 62-year-old man who was hospitalized at Ospital ng Navotas, due to pneumonia and tuberculosis.