PNP chief says no to detention of curfew violators

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa has ordered all police officers enforcing the Luzon-wide coronavirus quarantine not to detain curfew violators.

According to Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, PNP Deputy Chief for Operations, the order was given by Gamboa following reports that some police officers have detained violators of curfew hours that were set by local government units to stem the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Eleazar said those found to be in violation of curfew will only have their information taken by police officers for the filing of charges later after the Luzon-wide quarantine is lifted.

“Nagbigay ng utos ang chief PNP na lahat ng curfew violators ngayon, hindi na po ikukulong, kukunin ang circumstances at ipa-file na lang namin,” he said, adding that the order was issued on the recommendation of the Department of Justice and was approved by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

(PNP chief directed that curfew violators will not be detained. We will just record the circumstances.)

“At-large po yung mga yan para pagkatapos ng krisis na to saka natin pananagutan yun at depende rin sa mga multa at penalties na nakasaaad sa ordinansa ng curfew,” Eleazar added.

(These violators will remain at large and after the COVID-19 crisis is over, that will be the time they will have to face penalties for violating the curfew)

Eleazar, who is also the chief of Joint Task Force COVID-19 Shield, said they are investigating police officers who reportedly employed physical punishment on curfew violators, such as beating them up or exposing them to sunlight.

“Wala dapat physical punishment na pinabibigay sa kanila hindi dapat binibilad, hindi dapat pinapalo. ‘Yan ang aming iniimbestigahan,” Eleazar said, adding that they are reminding police officers on the ground to respect the rights of citizens while enforcing the rules of the enhanced community quarantine.

(There should be no physical punishment. Violators should not be sanctioned by sitting under the sun, they should not be hit. These are being investigated.)

Earlier, newly-appointed Manila Police District chief Brig. Gen. Rolando Miranda said probers have started their investigation of an incident involving Sta. Ana police station commander Lt. Col. Reynaldo Magdaluyo. The probe was ordered after a video that went viral showed Magdaluyo allegedly hitting and cursing residents of the Golden Mosque Compound in Quiapo City in Manila for allegedly leaving their homes without permission.

Various local government units in Luzon have been enforcing their respective curfew hours to prevent the community transmission of COVID-19. A curfew is only valid if the local government unit approves it by way of an ordinance.

/MUF