INTENSIFIED ECQ. Cops stop a jogger as the city intensified it enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). The intensified ECQ orders the immediate arrest and filing of cases against violators. (Photo courtesy of Baguio Public Information Office)
BAGUIO CITY – Violators of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) will face outright arrest and imprisonment, the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) said on Thursday.
BCPO director Col. Allen Rae Co said that a recent memorandum from the Philippine National Police national headquarters mandates that all violators of ECQ be immediately arrested and jailed.
BCPO received the memo from PNP-Directorate for Operations (TDO) Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Luis Licup ordered the sanctions for ECQ violators, the report added.
The memorandum issued April 22 set the additional guidance of PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa on the ECQ and boosted Mayor Benjamin Magalong's directive last week to immediately arrest ECQ lawbreakers as he saw the need for harsher penalties.
Co said that with directives, there will be no more warnings, instead, an outright arrest will be undertaken.
"So, we would like to reiterate our warning (to the public) to stay at home or be imprisoned," Co said.
ECQ violators will be charged with violation of Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code, Republic Act 11332 (Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health concern Act), and Republic Act No. 11469 or An Act Declaring the Existence of a National Health Emergency Arising from the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) situation.
The law is national policy authorizing President Rodrigo Duterte for a limited period and subject to restrictions, to exercise powers necessary and proper to carry out the policy considering the gravity of the present situation.
Co warned that violators will also face criminal charges for breaching Republic Act 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One Act), and Presidential Proclamation (PP) 922 or State of Public Health Emergency.
"They will also have criminal records that will be reflected once they apply for Police and NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) clearance," he said.
Co said that 127 violators have been nabbed in the first four days of the intensified ECQ implementation that imposes the 24 hours curfew.
Police records show that 21 offenders were caught during the first day of implementation last Sunday, April 19; there were 42 on the second, and 32 on the third day. Co said they will sustain the crackdown "for the good of the many" until the possible lifting of the Luzon-wide ECQ. (PNA)
