ROXAS City – Police personnel in this province nabbed at least 58 Capizeños violating curfew hours, which was imposed due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The violators, who were caught from March 18 to April 5, include seven minors and three females, a report from Capiz Police Provincial Office (CPPO) showed.
Gov. Esteban Evan Contreras’ strict 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew is part of the Executive Order (EO) No. 11 he issued to further strengthen strict quarantine procedures in the province to supress the spread of COVID-19.
Contreras said in a video message: “I am asking for your cooperation to follow the curfew hours and home quarantine.”
The governor added that those exempted from the curfew are only the following: government and private employees, which include health workers; personnel of the Metro Roxas Water District; Capiz Electric Cooperative and National Grid Corporation of the Philippines; firemen; emergency responders of Capiz Emergency Response Team and Roxas City Emergency Response Team; Philippine Red Cross; and mediamen, provided that they present their identification (ID) cards and certification of employment when their work schedules are within restricted hours.
Also excluded from the curfew are food service and delivery crew; those who fetch their employees from work, village officials and Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams, who have been deputized as curfew enforcers in their localities; law enforcers with specific mission orders; and Business Process Outsourcing workers, provided they can also show ID, proof of duty, or hours of work. Persons on emergency health situations are also excused from the curfew.
Memorandum Order No. 36-A, or the implementing guidelines of EO No. 11 by Contreras directs law enforcers to observe maximum tolerance in sending violators home. Authorities, however, may file charges for violation of Republic Act 9271, or the Quarantine Act of 2004 and vagrancy law under the Revised Penal Code if violators refuse to follow orders during curfew hours.(With a report from PIA/PN)
