ILOILO City – The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) recorded the arrest of 2,799 quarantine violators from May 8 to 25. These individuals were either given a warning or made to pay a fine.
“Despite our series of reminders, many Ilonggos still forget to wear their basic defense against COVID-19 and some have face masks but do not wear properly,” said IPPO director, Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero.
Of the 2,799 violators, 1,371 were caught not properly wearing their face masks, while 1,428 did not wear face masks at all. The ten municipalities with the most number of violators are as follows: Lemery (213), Sara (99), Miag-ao (85), Dumangas (81), Dueñas (80), San Miguel (77), Badiangan (65), Banate (64), Batad (58), and Janiuay (53).
Gorero said no violators have been arrested yet, as the police are exerting their effort to educate the public regarding the health protocols. Some violators were brought to the police station and underwent talks about their violations and the importance of face mask defense.
“We are still on the massive information drive through the social media, rekorida, and coordination meetings with stakeholders regarding the wearing of face masks and observance of other health protocols,” Gorero said.
For now, most violators received a warning, while 94 were fined based on the existing municipal ordinance, and 78 were made rendered community service. Gorero said violators of the face mask policy can be arrested, especially if they remain defiant after initial reminders. He also observed that most violators are from towns far from the city.
“We believe that these people from rural towns are getting complacent thinking that the gravity of the pandemic is in the metropolis. Malapit man sa city or malayo, dapat gid mag wear sang facemask para maganubo ang aton kaso. Sa mga hard-headed nga mga violators we will arrest them and put in jail,” he added./PN
