APPREHENDED. Violators of minimum health protocols form a queue at the Quezon City Memorial Circle on Wednesday (May 12, 2021). Authorities apprehended a total of 3,200 violators during the 'one-time, big-time' operation. (PNA photo by Robert Oswald Alfiler)
MANILA – Authorities apprehended a total of 3,200 individuals in Quezon City for violating health and safety protocols during its 'one-time, big-time' operation on Wednesday.
The Quezon City government said the operation was launched in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to arrest individuals who do not wear or improperly wear their face masks and face shields.
"Ikinasa itong one-time, big-time operations sapagkat marami pa rin ang hindi sumusunod sa health protocols. Gayunman, ipatutupad pa rin natin ang maximum tolerance at ang mga mahuhuling lumabag ay bibigyan ng ticket (We launched this one-time, big-time operation because many are still not following health protocols. However, we still assure maximum tolerance and those caught violating them will be issued a ticket)," Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
The “one-time, big-time” joint operation was conducted by the QC Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS), QC Police District (QCPD), Task Force on Transport and Traffic Management, Task Force Disiplina, and the Market Development and Administration Department in the city’s 142 barangays.
DPOS head Elmo San Diego said the operation aims to lessen the number of health protocol violators in the city.
“Ginawa na natin itong ‘one-time, big-time’ noong nakaraang buwan, at gagawin pa rin natin ngayon. Hindi tayo titigil hangga't marami pa ring pasaway na hindi sumusunod sa ating local ordinances on health protocols (We already did this last month and we will still do it now. We won’t stop for as long as many people do not follow our local ordinances on health protocols)," San Diego said.
The apprehended violators were brought to the Quezon Memorial Circle for proper documentation.
They were also given a lecture on the present ordinances that pertain to the imposed minimum health protocols in the city.
Moreover, violators were also issued ordinance violation receipts (OVR) with a corresponding penalty of PHP300 for the first offense, PHP500 for the second offense, and PHP1,000 for the third offense.
Belmonte said the fines must be paid within a reasonable period of time or they will face charges before at the City Prosecutors' Office.
Meanwhile, to ensure the safety of everyone, those individuals who manifested symptoms of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) such as fever, cough, colds, and difficulty of breathing were asked to undergo free swab testing.
"Namahagi rin tayo ng 1.2 million face masks at 300,000 face shields sa ating indigent residents para maiwasan ang mga ganitong paglabag sa ating mga ordinansa (We also distributed 1.2 million face masks and 300,000 face shield to our indigent residents to help them avoid violating existing ordinances)," Belmonte added. (PNA)
