Eleazar to cops: Arrest mask violators, but don’t hurt them

MANILA, Philippines — Newly installed Philippine National Police chief Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar has ordered the police to carry out the directive of President Duterte to arrest those who are not and improperly wearing masks.

But he assured the public that the police would respect the rights of violators and exercise maximum tolerance.

“We can arrest them but we should not punish them and most of all we should not hurt them. If you do that, you will be answerable to me,” Eleazar said.

Eleazar gave the directive to top police officials on Saturday during his first command conference at the PNP headquarters in Crame Crame, Quezon City.

Local governments have passed as early as last year ordinances specifying the sanctions for violators of health protocols, ranging from verbal warnings for first-timers, to paying fines or doing community service for repeat offenders.

In a televised speech on May 5, Mr. Duterte ordered the police to detain for nine hours and investigate those who were not properly wearing their masks “to protect the public.”

Eleazar’s directives echoed Interior Secretary Eduardo Año’s earlier order for the PNP to first issue warnings to violators and tell them to wear masks and face shields properly.

“I have instructed the PNP that the apprehension of violators shall always be in accordance with law and local ordinances where violators will be warned and instructed by police and local authorities to wear the face mask or face shield properly,” he said.

Only when a violator refuses to comply should an arrest be made.

Año said that in the absence of a local ordinance, violators would be detained for a maximum of 12 hours, and released if no complaints were filed.

Under the Revised Penal Code, detained persons must be delivered to judicial authorities, for filing of complaints, within 12 hours for crimes with light penalties; 18 hours for crimes with correctional penalties and 36 hours for capital offenses.