Baguio sets raps vs ECQ violators; 138 quarantine violators held in Pangasinan

BAGUIO CITY – City police are set to file criminal charges against violators of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) for breaching Republic Act 11469, the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, and Presidential Proclamation (PP) 922 on the State of Public Health Emergency.

City police chief Col. Allen Rae Co said law offenders will face imprisonment once the ECQ is lifted.

“They will also have criminal records that will be reflected once they apply for Police and NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) clearances,” Co said.

                  He said this is the reason why all the Unauthorized Persons Outside Residences (UPORs) caught are now being booked and their mugshots taken. “For the last few weeks we have been lenient with them and have not been filing cases as we do not want to add to their burden in this time of crisis.

“ We do not want to do it but we will if we must as a lot of people do not learn and we have to protect not only them but other people as well,” Co said.

                Four days into the intensified ECQ implementation as ordered by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, the number of violators had not tapered off. On the first day, there were 21 offenders rounded up; 42 on the second, and 32 on the third day. On Thursday, 32 were arrested, 18 of them male and 14 female, including some senior citizens, three Saudi and Jordanian nationals.

They were apprehended at Harrison Road, Shanum St., Igorot Park, Kisad Rd., Lower Gen. Luna,1st Kayang Rd, New Lucban, and Salud Mitra. They were brought to the police holding stations, lectured, and booked. Co said they will sustain the crackdown “for the good of the many.”

In lingayen, Pangasinan, 138 persons were apprehended Monday for violating the protocols of the enhanced community quarantine.

A report from the regional police showed that 97 were arrested for not wearing face masks.

Eighteen persons were arrested for curfew violations and 23 for illegal gambling. – With a report from Eva Visperas