The Philippine National Police on Monday clarified that violators of quarantine protocols will not be jailed, but may face arrest once apprehended.
“Itong mga ito, wala tayong ikukulong, nililinaw natin. Aarestuhin kung sakali man pero hindi ikukulong,”PNP Chief Guillermo Eleazar said in an interview.
This clarification was made after President Rodrigo Duterte himself reiterated his call for local governments to step up enforcement of health protocols, warning they will be held liable if violations occur in their respective jurisdictions.
Earlier this month, Duterte also ordered cops to arrest individuals who are not wearing face masks properly, with a warning of detention for violators.
Eleazar however explained that violators could only be brought to holding areas for initial investigation and booking purposes. They could also be issued ordinance violation tickets and pay corresponding fines.
There are various ordinances with different penalties, but if the penalty is only to reprimand, jailing the violator does not make sense, he added.
