Don’t abuse quarantine violators, Robredo reminds enforcers

MANILA, Philippines — Those enforcing the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) should not abuse violators, Vice President Leni Robredo said Saturday.

“Implementors should be reminded why we have these regulations,” Robredo said in Filipino in an interview on Instagram. “Isn’t it that we have regulations to protect our lives, the lives of everyone. It’s highly unacceptable if in protecting lives somebody dies.”

Acknowledging that laws should be strictly implemented, Robredo said enforcers should have more empathy for violators.

“There should always be a reminder of why they are doing all of this. I’m sure they will become more tolerant. Their empathy will grow,” she said. “Some of our countrymen are hard-headed, but we need flexibility at a time like this.”

During the lockdown, human rights groups called the attention of law enforcers after reports of a Makati City policeman who attempted to arrest a man in a posh subdivision after his housemaid supposedly violated quarantine rules by not wearing a face mask in public.

The Makati police already filed a complaint against the man for disobedience to a public officer, direct assault, and defiance of a city ordinance.

Another incident involved Master Sgt. Daniel Florendo a Quezon City policeman who fatally shot former Army Cpl. Winston Ragos twice after the latter appeared to be drawing a gun.

Some witnesses said the former soldier was not carrying a gun and was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

In still another incident, members of Quezon City’s Task Force Disiplina were also caught on video hitting a vendor with a piece of wood for reportedly not wearing a mask.

/atm