MANILA, Philippines — “Arrogance has no place in the rule of law.”
Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) president Atty. Domingo Egon Cayosa issued the statement on Tuesday as he reminded foreign nationals in the Philippines that they are not exempted from the country’s laws after an incident involving a police officerand a foreigner inside an exclusive subdivision in Makati made headlines.
“Malinaw ho sa ating Revised Penal Code…territoriality principal applies, kahit dayuhan ka, kahit hindi ka Pilipino, kung ikaw naman ay nakatira sa Plipinas, aba sumunod ka naman sa mga batas ng Pilipinas, at kung hindi ay mananagot ka, hindi ho kayo exempted,” he said in an interview on dzBB.
(It is clear in our Revised Penal Code…territoriality principal applies. Even if you are a foreigner, even if you are not a Filipino, you should still follow the Philippines’ laws. Otherwise, you will be held accountable. You are not exempted).
On Monday, a police officer tried to arrest Javier Salvador Parra, in front of his residence in Dasmarinas Village despite the absence of a warrant.
They earlier figured in an altercation over the supposed violation of the foreigner’s house helper, who was watering the plants without a face mask on.
Under Makati City Ordinance No. 2020-089, anyone not wearing a face mask in public will be fined P1,000 for first offense, P3,000 for second offense, and P5,000 and/or imprisonment of six months for third offense.
The police reportedly wanted to fine the housemaid P1,000 for the said violation but Parra questioned the need for his helper to wear a mask inside his property.
But according to a report from the Makati City Police, the housemaid was “outside perimeter property.”
Calls for Parra’s deportation surfaced after two videos of the confrontation circulated online with one video showing the latter cursing and hurling expletives at the police officer, while the other footage showed an irate Parra being tackled to the ground.
But can Parra be deported over the incident? Cayosa replied: “When you commit a crime in a host country maaari ho yang ground for deportation.”
“At hindi lang ho yung ‘Arrogance has no place in our country,’ gusto ko pong palawagin yan, arrogance has no place in the rule of law,” Cayosa said.
(And it is not only ‘Arrogance has no place in our country,’ let me expand that arrogance has no place in the rule of law).
It was Senator Panfilo Lacson who earlier urged the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to look into the said incident, adding that “arrogance has no place in our country.”
Cayosa also believes that Parra’s house helper violated the city’s ordinance on wearing face masks as well as the regulations of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Even if the gated subdivision is a private property, he explained that public spaces are areas shared with other people.
“Kung titignan ho natin ang letter at spirit ng ordinance at yung alituntunin sa ECQ…’pag public, yun bang merong maaaring makasama kang ibang tao na not member of your household…sa aming tingin ho, kahit private gated subdivision yan, kung lumabas ka na sa side walk at lansangan, that is already public space,” Cayosa said.
(If we look at the letter and spirit of the ordinance and the ECQ regulations…it is a public space if there is a chance that you will be around people who are not a member of your household, I think even if that is a private gated subdivision, if you go are on the side walk, the streets, that is already public space).
“So, I think malinaw ho naman na sakop ng ordinansa at ng ECQ regulation yung nangyari, nasa labas na ho siya ng bakuran, nasa sidewalk na siya, yung katulong,” he added.
(So I think it’s clear that the incident is covered by the ordinance and the ECQ regulations because the house helper was outside, she was on the side walk).
The Makati City police earlier said it would pursue cases against Parra and the house helper.
Among the charges to be filed against Parra are disobedience to a person in authority, direct assault and violation of Republic Act No. 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.
Parra and his helper would also be charged with violation of City Ordinance No. 2020-089, or the mandatory wearing of face masks in public areas.
Parra, whois from Spain, said he would file countercharges against Senior Master Sgt. Roland Von Madrona of the Makati police for assaulting him, resulting in injuries.
GSG
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