PNP chief to check case of Caloocan fish vendor jailed for not having travel pass

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa on Monday urged policemen to strike a balance between imposing the law and giving humanitarian considerations in applying quarantine rules.

Gamboa said this following the arrest of 58-year-old fish vendor Joseph “Dodong” Jimeda who was detained for nearly two weeks for going to the Navotas Fish Market with no travel pass that would allow him to cross cities from his home in Caloocan.

“Generally ang guidelines naman namin sa kapulisan (our guidelines for the police) is  you have to balance sometimes ‘yung (the) humanitarian aspect as against doon sa kailangang iimpose ang law (when you need to impose the law),” he said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.

He said he will look into the case of Jimeda, who has already been freed last week through the efforts of people of the San Roque Cathedral in Caloocan, Caritas Caloocan, and the Public Attorney’s Office.

“I will find the details of Mang Dodong and we will issue a directive to balance (with the humanitarian aspect)… We really don’t know the circumstances but we will encourage our policemen to balance,” he said, adding that those who have less in life must have more in law.

Gamboa said that the discretion on whether to file cases on quarantine violations lies on police officers.

EDV