Navotas mayor to ECQ violators: ‘Walang total lockdown, pero mala-lockdown kayo sa kulungan’

MANILA, Philippines—Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco on Thursday reiterated his warning against violators of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) after 40 more people were caught, bringing the total of violators in the city to 1,355 in less than a month.

“Walang total lockdown. Pero mala-lockdown kayo sa kulungan pag patuloy ang pagmamatigas ninyo. Ano bang mas gusto nyo: manatili sa bahay ng isang buwan o maghimas ng rehas ng anim na buwan?” the mayor said on Facebook.

(There is no total lockdown. But you will be locked inside a prison cell if you continue being arrogant. What do you want more: to stay at home for a month or to be locked in jail for six months?)

https://www.facebook.com/TiangcoToby/posts/2912038692219861

The total number of adult violators rose to 968 after 31 more people were caught from Wednesday to Thursday, while the number of violators who are minors rose to 387 after nine more were caught.

Tiangco’s warning came after a Navotas resident, who has been bedridden for a long time, tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

“Paano siya nahawaan? Simple lang. Maaaring ang mga nag-alaga o bumisita sa kanya ang may dala ng virus. Kaya nga hanggang maaari, manatili na lang sa bahay,” he stressed.

(How did the person get infected? It is simple. Someone with the virus could have taken care of them or visited them. So, as much as possible, just stay inside your homes.)

A total of 19 confirmed COVID-19 cases has so far been recorded in the city, 11 of whom are currently admitted while six people have died. One person has already recovered while another is under home quarantine.

“Gusto po nating lahat na bumalik na sa normal ang ating buhay. Pero ang krisis po natin sa COVID-19 ay kailangan tugunan ng pagsasakripisyo. Hindi ito matatapos hanggang patuloy na may nagkakasakit. Mamamatay lang ang virus kung wala na itong mahahawaan kaya nga napakaimportante ng pananatili sa bahay,” Tiangco said.

(We all want our lives to return to normal. But we have to sacrifice in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis. This will not end if people continue to get infected. The virus will only die if it cannot infect other people so it is very important to stay at home.)

“Sa ayaw pa ring umintindi at sumunod, kulong ang para sa inyo. Tutal gusto nyong lumabas ng bahay, at wala kayong paki-alam sa inyong kapwa tao, sa kulungan na namin kayo patutuluyin,” he added.

(To those who refuse to understand this and obey the law, you will be imprisoned. Since you want to go outside and do not care about your fellow man, then we will just put you in prison cells.)

Tiangco has been constantly telling residents not to violate quarantine protocols as they will be given “no warnings” and will be immediately punished if they get caught. The punishment for the offense is detention for one day to six months and/or the payment of a fine worth P2,000 to P100,000.