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https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/04/20/2008468/palace-report-lgus-violations-quarantine-
violators-rights

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday urged the public to report human rights
violations during the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine and reminded local
governments to ensure that human dignity and rule of law are respected as they
implement coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) containment measures.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said that while the Palace gives credit to local
governments’ efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus, there have been
concerns on alleged human rights violations against those who disobeyed rules and
health protocols.

“As we are not fully aware of the details of such violations, we will appreciate receipt of
detailed information of the same for proper action by the appropriate agencies,” Roque
said in a statement.

“Under the current circumstances we are in, the (local government units) enforce the
law as reasonably strict as possible for the full protection of our people. While such
protection measures spell the difference between life and death, they are implemented
well within the rule of law, and are respectful of the human dignity and human rights of
everyone,” he added.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which supervises LGUs
and the Philippine National Police (PNP), is committed to uphold human rights at all
times and will not tolerate any violation during the quarantine period, according to the
Palace spokesman.

Roque also called on the public to do their part in preventing the spread of the virus by
complying with health protocols.

“In all this, we cannot overstate the need for everyone to observe social distancing,
curfew hours and other protocols in these difficult times. As necessary, please stay at
home,” he said. “Please do not violate any of the ECQ rules. This entails everyone’s
cooperation. We need to fight this pandemic together.”

About 125,000 people have been apprehended for violating quarantine measures, but a
majority of them have been directed to return to their homes, according to police
officials.
Last week, President Duterte reminded authorities to inject “humanity” when enforcing
quarantine protocols and to consider the plight of those who violated protocols because
they had to find food for their families.

“So I’d like to remind everybody that whatever we do here, there has to be a humanity in
it. It’s not just a question of enforcing the law. You have to take into account the
humanity angle,” Duterte said in a public address last Thursday.

Stricter measures
The public should also be ready for stricter quarantine measures if the number of
violators will continue to increase, the PNP said yesterday.

PNP spokesman Brig Gen. Bernard Banac issued the warning after the number of
quarantine and curfew violators had risen to 130,177 as of Saturday.

Of the number, 3,875 were caught since Friday despite talk of possible implementation
of strict disciplinary procedures similar to martial law.

“We expect tighter safety and stricter quarantine measures if the number of violators
would continue to rise and people would continue to ignore curfew and social distancing
rules,” Banac said in a Viber message.

In the same televised address last Thursday, Duterte said he would call in the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PNP to enforce quarantine rules to contain
COVID-19.

Banac clarified that the PNP would not be sidelined but would implement quarantine
guidelines together with the AFP.

“All (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases) guidelines have been
jointly implemented by combined AFP-PNP through the Joint Task Force COVID-19
Shield,” he said.

Meanwhile, PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar
disputed reports that police officers are violating human rights of citizens in the
implementation of quarantine guidelines.

Eleazar said they have actually been lenient, noting that 94,272 of the quarantine
violators were released after being warned not to repeat the offense.

“Kung tutuusin, napakaluwag ng pulis, pero kailangan po maghigpit talaga tayo (In
reality, the police are lenient, but we have to get stricter),” he said in an interview with
radio station dzBB.
Eleazar made the statement after Commission on Human Rights (CHR) spokesperson
Jacqueline de Guia said they have received 103 complaints of human rights violations
allegedly being committed by lawmen in the implementation of quarantine.

In an interview also with dzBB, De Guia said the CHR would probe a recent incident in
Caloocan City where about 200 quarantine violators were forced by policemen to walk
for more than an hour to city hall.

If given a choice, Eleazar said he would prefer walking instead of landing in jail, adding
that he completely understood the situation of police officers on the ground who are
risking their lives just to maintain peace and order.

The PNP official also lamented that some beneficiaries of the national government’s
social amelioration program used their cash assistance to buy liquor and illegal drugs.

“Kayo ba ay natutuwa sa mga … ’yan na mga pasaway (Are you pleased with these
people who are stubborn?)” he said.

Eleazar stressed that the rights of individuals are secondary in times of emergencies
where lives are at stake.

“Takutan na para tumigil kayo sa inyong kalokohan at mag-cooperate naman po sa

ating pamahalaan (It’s time to scare you so you’ll stop with your foolishness and you
start cooperating with the government),” he said.