328 ECQ violators held in Quezon

LUCENA CITY –– Authorities arrested 328 alleged violators in Quezon province of President Duterte’s enhanced community quarantine order, police reported Saturday.

The violators were nabbed in Lucena City, Tayabas City and at least 30 towns from the province’s 39 municipalities, Colonel Audie Madrideo, Quezon police chief, said in a report.

At least 182 of the suspects were caught in the streets during curfew hours from March 17 to April 10. They were charged with violation of Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code, which “punishes resistance and disobedience to a person in authority or the agents of such person.”

Lucena City topped the list with 71 arrested violators followed by Tayabas City with 44.

The report said 109 of those arrested were charged with willful violation of the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.

The others arrested were facing charges that included direct assault, alarm and scandal, grave threats, unjust vexation, disobedience of orders, price overcharging, and others.

If found guilty, violators face a penalty of not more than six months imprisonment or a fine of not more than P50,000.

President Duterte placed the whole Luzon under enhanced community quarantine until the end of April to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

On April 8, Gov. Danilo Suarez ordered a “total lockdown” in the province due to rising cases of COVID-19, which health authorities say has reached 23 as of Saturday.

LZB