LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) has so far arrested some 2,079 individuals as of April 14 for violating the guidelines of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
In an interview Tuesday, Maj. Jose Abaya II, chief of the PPPO Police Community Affairs and Development Branch, said the number of arrested persons was recorded since the declaration of ECQ by President Rodrigo Duterte on March 16.
Based on the PPPO’s data, 1,479 individuals were invited to different local police stations in Pangasinan after violating the curfew hours, Abaya said.
"Aside from curfew violators, we were also able to arrest individuals for illegal gambling, overpricing or profiteering of commodities, and violation of Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC)" he said.
Abaya said some 359 persons were arrested and charged for illegal gambling; 235 for the violation of the RPC, and six individuals for profiteering.
Meanwhile, patrolling police officers and those manning the checkpoints in the province have not made any arrest yet involving non-wearing of face masks which the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) ordered as mandatory, specifically when in public places, starting April 8.
"This is a good sign that people are well-informed about the newly enacted provincial ordinance. Hopefully, there will be no violators of this ordinance as the extreme ECQ continues in the province," he said.
Governor Amado Espino III signed on Tuesday Executive Order No. 0019-2020 extending anew the extreme ECQ in Pangasinan until midnight of April 21, 2020. (PNA)
