MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) will file charges against 21 residents of Barangay San Roque in Quezon City, who were detained after conducting a protest calling for food packs from the local government.
In a statement on Wednesday, Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo, chief of QCPD, said 21 members of Samahan ng Magkakapitbahay ng Barangay San Roque will face charges for violation of Bayanihan To Heal As One Act, Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act and Resistance and Disobedience to a Person in Authority or Agents.
Montejo said police officers tried to convince the protesters to return to their homes but the residents refused which resulted in their arrest.
“Bago po sila hinuli, unang-una pinakiusapan natin sila para magsibalikan sa kanilang tahanan, subalit nagmatigas sila kaya wala tayo magawa kundi i-implement natin ang batas,” QCPD chief said.
(Before they were arrested, we already asked them to return to their homes but they were stubborn and we have no choice but to enforce the law.)
Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, meanwhile, reminded residents not to leave their homes for the duration of the ongoing quarantine period as the “government remains responsive to their concerns.”
“No less than President Rodrigo Duterte has assured that the needy will benefit most from the P200-billion social amelioration program rolled-out by government in response to the socio-economic effects to the Philippines of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Banac said in another statement.