QUEZON CITY (PR) — Newly-installed Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police General Guillermo Lorenzo T Eleazar assured the public of the police’s full respect to human rights as it complies with the order of President Duterte to arrest those who are not wearing face mask amid the continuous threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
PGen Eleazar said the President’s order is a strong message that the national government is serious in implementing the minimum health safety standard protocols as part of the measure to contain the spread of the coronavirus which has so far infected more than one million Filipinos and claimed the lives of more than 18,000.
Citing his experience as the commander of the Joint Task Force COVID Shield, PGen Eleazar said the infection rate would always go down every time strict quarantine measures are being implemented like in the case in Metro Manila and nearby areas when Special Action Force commandos and soldiers were deployed last year and in Cebu City when the same security forces were deployed amid the sudden rise of COVID-19 cases.
He added that the reduction of COVID-19 cases in the past days after the sudden upsurge of cases in March as reported by the Department of Health is another proof that strict quarantine measures are indeed working.
“I understand the concerns of some people regarding the arrest of those not wearing face masks but this is a needed measure to ensure compliance of the people to observe the minimum health safety standard protocol,” said PGen Eleazar.
“I believe that most of the Filipinos are doing what needs to be done to protect themselves and their family pero meron talaga tayong mga kababayan na hindi talaga mapakiusapan at patuloy na nagpapasaway. The President’s order is for these hard-headed people,” he added.
To ensure compliance with policies on human rights, PGen Eleazar ordered all PNP personnel to deal properly with the violators and to exercise maximum tolerance.
“Puwede natin silang arestuhin pero hindi natin sila dapat parusahan at lalong hindi natin sila dapat saktan. Kapag ginawa ninyo ito, mananagot kayo sa akin,” he said.
PGen Eleazar explained that the penalties for violation of the minimum health safety protocols are already embodied in the local ordinances such as imposition of fine and community service, and these should be used to discipline the violators.
“Para naman sa ating mga kababayan, mahigit isang taon na po tayong nilalabanan ang pandemya. Hindi na dapat kayo sinasabihan kung ano ang dapat gawin para protesksiyunan ninyo ang inyong sarili at pamilya at lalong hindi na dapat tayo nag-a-arestuhan pa. Muli nakikiusap ako na magsuot kayo ng face mask at sundin ang minimum health safety standard protocol dahil kung hindi, kayo naman ang mananagot sa amin,” he added.
PGen Eleazar is expected to reiterate this order as he presides his first command conference today, May 8, at the National Headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
One of the issues that is expected to be discussed is the order of Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Eduardo Año for the PNP to prepare detention areas in anticipation of the number of arrests that would be made in the coming days. (PNP/PRESS RELEASE)