VIOLATORS. Some 39 residents of Silay City, Negros Occidental were apprehended and reminded to follow the Covid-19 health and safety protocols during a seminar held inside an auditorium on Feb. 4, 2021. In a statement on Monday (Feb. 8, 2021), city police chief, Maj. Rollie Pondevilla, said that instead of imposing a PHP1,000 fine on the violators, they were instead told to attend a seminar and given face masks before allowed to go home. (Photo courtesy of Silay City Police Station PCR)
BACOLOD CITY – The Silay City Police Station in Negros Occidental welcomes the plan of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate its response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) health and safety protocol violators by supposedly “parading” them on the streets.
“We see no problem if they want us to be investigated,” police chief, Maj. Rollie Pondevilla, said in a statement on Monday.
He emphasized that they acted in good faith when they implement their action.
“What we have done is not bad for the people. It’s for their own welfare given that we are still in the middle of the pandemic. Health protocols have to be observed,” he added.
Last Feb. 4, some 39 residents were apprehended by police personnel in various patrol operations for not wearing facemasks and not observing physical distancing, which are violations under City Ordinance 03, Series of 20201 or the “Silay City Covid-19 Counter Measure Ordinance”.
On the same day, the station’s Police Community Relations (PCR) unit posted on Facebook a video and several photos of the violators being “paraded” while doing a “hands forward” position from the headquarters to a nearby auditorium for a seminar.
While inside, they were asked to stand and sit in front of a coffin to warn them they could also end up as victims of Covid-19, if they fail to follow the health protocols.
“It’s not a shame campaign nor a human rights issue. This is just a warning for others violating the standard health and safety protocols especially the non-wearing of facemasks and (not following) social distancing,” the PCR unit’s post said.
Pondevilla also said that it was necessary to ensure that proper social distancing is observed.
The residents walked for only 15 to 20 meters, from the police station going to the auditorium, he added.
Pondevillla said that instead of imposing a PHP1,000 fine on the violators, they were instead told to attend a seminar for them to be reminded about the ordinance.
“We even gave them face masks before allowing them to go home right after the seminar,” the Silay police chief said as he appealed to the public not to put malice on what had happened.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the CHR said it agreed with the need to continuously work together to curb the transmission of Covid-19 by faithfully adhering to health and safety protocols set by experts.
Spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia, however, reiterated that addressing the pandemic must always be guided by human rights principles.
“After all, the present national health crisis is a human rights issue – not a mere law enforcement agenda,” she added.
De Guia said that the CHR regional office in Western Visayas will conduct a probe on the incident to also hear the side of Silay City Police Station.
“We continuously remind law enforcers to adhere to human rights-based policing, including respect for every person’s dignity,” she said.
De Guia pointed out that parading alleged quarantine violators on the streets could amount to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment penalized by Republic Act No. 9745 or the “Anti-Torture Act” and barred by Convention Against Torture signed by the Philippines. (PNA)
