Violators of the curfew in line with the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon will not be detained, a ranking police official said on Saturday.
Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy for Operations, said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered them to only list names of violators and their infraction.
“Hindi ikukulong, I-file na lang namin after ng crisis na ito saka na lang nila pagbayaran yun [They will not be jailed, we will just file, they will be sanctioned after this crisis],” Eleazar said in a Laging Handa press briefing over state-run PTV.
After the documentation, the violators will be sent home, Eleazar said.
Eleazar said PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa ordered to investigate police officers who would detain and hurt curfew violators.
He reminded policemen to stick to the guidelines on the enhanced community quarantine and properly explain its enforcement to the people.
“This is not the time for this. In fact, this is the time for understanding and sacrifices,” Eleazar said.
Meanwhile, DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya reminded all villages to coordinate with PNP in establishing checkpoints in their areas.
“Hindi pwede maglagay ng checkpoints ang barangay na walang supervision ng police [Checkpoints could not be put up by the barangay without supervision with the police],” Malaya said.
Malaya urged anew the public to stay at home to help stop the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Malaya said LGUs must ensure social distancing and avoiding mass gatherings, among others.