Not wearing face masks may land you in jail

GOTCHA! A woman tries to reason with Quezon City policemen who caught her stepping out of her house without wearing a mask at Sabina Village, Barangay Talipapa, on Wednesday. She was eventually forced to go with the officers. President Duterte on Tuesday declared that spreading the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 was a “serious crime’’ and ordered police to arrest anyone not wearing a mask. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

People caught violating COVID-19 protocols like wearing face masks and observing physical distancing may face a jail time of 10 to 30 days, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said on Wednesday, adding that he had a dialogue with local chief executives to discuss uniform rules against quarantine violators. A fine of P1,000 to P5,000 could also be imposed, he said. Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya meanwhile wants to impose community service for first offense, a fine for second offense and jail on third offense of violators. Community service, he said, “would help us relieve the congestion in our jail facilities.” —Nestor Corrales

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