CEBU CITY, Cebu Philippines — Nine people, five of them teenagers, were arrested for violating quarantine rules during a boxing match staged on a beach by villagers in Talisay City, Cebu province, last week.
“It’s very disappointing that these people do not understand the gravity of the situation,” said Talisay Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr.
They were charged with violations of Republic Act No. 1132, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, and Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code for disobedience.
A two-minute video of the boxing match in Barangay Tangke on May 2 was circulated online and caught the attention of Gullas, who immediately ordered the police to arrest those in the area.
The mayor said those who witnessed the match disregarded social distancing measures in violation of provisions of the enhanced community quarantine imposed by the government to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The group had already dispersed when policemen led by Maj. Gerard Ace Pelare, Talisay police chief, arrived on the beach. The nine suspects were arrested in a follow-up operation.
Pelare, who is also a lawyer, said he decided to include the five minors, aged 16 and 17, in the cases “to teach them a lesson.
”Under RA 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, minors aged 16 or 17 may be held liable if they acted “with discernment,” meaning they are aware of what they are doing.
Gullas appealed to barangay officials to help the city government in ensuring that residents stay at home and prevent the risk of infection.
No sailing
In Bohol, police arrested five people in separate operations on May 1 after they allegedly sneaked into the island in violation of the no-sail policy being enforced by the province to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The five were taken to quarantine for mandatory 14-day isolation.
Among those arrested were two siblings who traveled from Cebu City to Barangay Fatima, Inabanga town, where they live.
A Korean and two boatmen were also arrested after they docked at the coastline of Barangay Doljo on Panglao Island without any authorization from government agencies. They came from Surigao City.
—REPORTS FROM NESTLE SEMILLA AND LEO UDTOHAN