MANILA – Vice President Leni Robredo opposed the latest directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to arrest those not wearing facemasks properly in public.
According to Robredo, the authorities should instead warn and teach violators how to properly wear facemasks and, if they remain hardheaded, slap them with monetary penalties.
“Para sa ‘kin, ‘di nakakatulong na ang default natin, aresto. Unang-una, ang sitwasyon nga sa mga jails natin grabe,” Robredo said on Sunday.
Meanwhile, newly-appointed PNP chief Director General Guillermo Eleazar said police officers will not enforce harsh penalties for violation of the facemask policy.
In an interview with DZBB AM radio, Eleazar said they will bring violators to a holding area and enforce local ordinances on the mandatory wearing of facemasks, such as community service or imposing fines.
“Walang karapatan na magbigay ng punishment ang opisyal. Manghuhuli lang, hindi sasaktan, hindi bibigyan ng punishment. Pero dadalhin natin sila sa [holding] area na hindi magkukumpulan,” Eleazar said.
Eleazar further warned policemen he would deal with station commanders and police chiefs personally if there would be reports of harsh penalties imposed within their jurisdictions.
“’Yung pinagpaparada, push-up, wala po ‘yan. Kapag may ganyan, mamalasin ‘yung mga station commanders at chiefs of police na nagsasagawa ng ganyan,” Eleazar said.
Instead of giving harsh penalties, violators should just be given facemasks to protect themselves from the coronavirus, he stressed./PN
