DILG: ‘Vast majority’ of improper face mask wearers only warned

(FILE) Residents wearing facemasks cross a street after the government imposed an enhanced quarantine as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 novel coronavirus in Manila on March 25, 2020. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — A vast majority of persons who were apprehended for not wearing or improperly wearing face masks were just warned despite the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to have them arrested, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said Friday.

“Remember, the vast majority of the people who have been apprehended have just been warned. Around 80 percent were just warned, some of them have been fined, and a very small number have actually been charged and inquested,” Malaya said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.

“If you look at the data across the Philippines, it could be less than 5 percent have actually been charged with violations of the ordinance or violations of the Revised Penal Code,” he added.

Duterte earlier said that those who fail to wear face masks amid the pandemic should be arrested.

Following Duterte’s directives, newly installed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Guillermo Eleazar ordered the PNP to carry out the directive but assured the public that the rights of violators will be respected and maximum tolerance will be observed.

In its latest report, the DILG was able to record more than 32,800 violations for not wearing face masks from May 12 to May 16.

Of this number, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said 15,556 were given warnings; 14,066 were made to pay fines or cited; 2,308 were asked to do community service, and 937 were arrested.

/MUF