Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco said violators of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the city will be given no warning nor exemptions when they get arrested after the number of violators rose by 70 in two days.
Tiangco maintained that the punishment, which is detention for one day to six months and/or the payment of a fine worth P2,000 to P100,000, is non-negotiable and the only way avoid getting caught is to stay at home.
“Araw-araw ay may nahuhuli po tayong lumalabag sa home quarantine, kabilang na ang mga menor de edad. Ito ay sa kabila ng pagkakaroon natin ng apat na kaso ng COVID-19 at sa paulit-ulit nating paalala sa panganib ng pagtambay o paggala sa labas ng bahay,” he said.
(Every day, we catch people violating the home quarantine, including minors. This happens amid the four COVID-19 cases in the city and our neverending reminder on the dangers of loitering and going outside of your houses.)
“Marami sa nahuhuli, humihingi ng konsiderasyon pero magpasensyahan na lang po tayo. Wala pong warning sa panghuhuli, wala pong pagbibigyan sa mga ikukulong,” the mayor added.
(A lot of the people we catch ask for consideration and ask us to exercise patience. There will be no warnings for those who will be caught, and we are not giving second chances.)
From April 3 to 4, 46 adults and 24 minors were caught in Navotas. A total of 566 adults and 200 minors have been caught violating ECQ protocols in the city, as of writing.
“Para maiwasan ito, MANATILI SA BAHAY. Isa lang ang sinabi ng lahat ng eksperto: Ang tanging paraan lang para hindi na lumaganap pa ang virus ay wag maipasa ito sa ibang tao. Kusang mamamatay ang virus pag wala na itong mahawaan pa,” Tiangco stressed.
(To avoid punishment, stay at home. All the experts say one thing: The only way to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus is to not infect other people. The virus will eventually die if it does not find other hosts.)
Under the enhanced community quarantine, strict home quarantine in all households is observed, as per Malacañang.