Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar (INQUIRER file photo / Niño Jesus Orbeta)
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Saturday assured that minors who violate quarantine protocols will not be arrested.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) earlier said that children who violated quarantine protocols should not be arrested and should be subject to proper intervention and sent back to their parents.
Paano nga ba dapat tratuhin ang mga bata, partikular ang mga batang lansangan at mga batang nakalabag sa curfew sa gitna ng kasalukuyang sitwasyon ng buong bansa dulot ng COVID-19? pic.twitter.com/qqkp7adllN
— CHR Philippines (@chrgovph) August 13, 2021
“Hindi naman talaga aarestuhin ng PNP personnel ang mga batang lumalabag sa curfew o iba pang quarantine protocols na ipinatutupad sa Metro Manila,” Eleazar said in a statement.
(PNP personnel will not arrest minors who violate curfew and other protocols being imposed in Metro Manila.)
“Sa simula pa lamang, tuwing nagkakaroon ng violations ang mga kabataan, ang kanilang mga magulang ang kinakausap ng ating kapulisan upang mapangaralan nila ang kanilang mga anak,” Eleazar said.
(Right from the start, whenever there are child violators, we talk to their parents and ask them to supervise their children.)
Eleazar added that the PNP is working with the Department of Social Welfare and Development in handling minors who violate quarantine rules.
“We assure the CHR and the public that it falls within our mandate to care for and protect our children,” he said.